Aggregation of amphiphilic pyranines in water: facile micelle formation in the presence of methylviologen

Visualizing Noncovalent Interactions and Property Prediction of Submicron-Sized Charge-Transfer Crystals from ab-initio Determined Structures

The charge-transfer (CT) interactions between organic compounds are reflected in the (opto)electronic properties. Determining and visualizing crystal structures of CT complexes are essential for the design of functional materials with desirable properties. Complexes of pyranine (PYR), methyl viologen (MV), and their derivatives are the most studied water-based CT complexes. Nevertheless, very few crystal structures of CT complexes have been reported so far. In this study, the structures of two PYRs-MVs CT crystals and a map of the noncovalent interactions using 3D electron diffraction (3DED) are reported. Physical properties, e.g., band structure, conductivity, and electronic spectra of the CT complexes and their crystals are investigated and compared with a range of methods, including solid and liquid state spectroscopies and highly accurate quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The combination of 3DED, spectroscopy, and DFT calculation can provide important insight into the structure-property relationship of crystalline CT materials, especially for submicrometer-sized crystals.

Temporally Controlled Multienzyme Catalysis Using a Dissipative Supramolecular Nanozyme

The development of superior functional enzyme mimics (nanozymes) is essential for practical applications, including point-of-care diagnostics, biotechnological applications, biofuels, and environmental remediation. Nanozymes with the ability to control their catalytic activity in response to external fuels offer functionally valuable platforms mimicking nonequilibrium systems in nature. Herein, we fabricated a supramolecular coordination bonding-based dynamic vesicle that exhibits multienzymatic activity. The supramolecular nanozyme shows effective laccase-like catalytic activity with a K_M value better than the native enzyme and higher stability in harsh conditions. Besides, the nanostructure demonstrates an efficient peroxidase-like activity with NADH peroxidase-like properties. Generation of luminescence from luminol and oxidation of dopamine are efficiently catalyzed by the nanozyme with high sensitivity, which is useful for point-of-care detections. Notably, the active nanozyme exhibits dynamic laccase-mimetic activity in response to pH variation, which has never been explored before. While a neutral/high pH leads to the self-assembly, a low pH disintegrates the assembled nanostructures and consequently turns off the nanozyme activity. Altogether, the self-assembled Cu²⁺-based vesicular nanostructure presents a pH-fueled dissipative system demonstrating effective temporally controlled multienzymatic activity.

Substrate-Induced Self-Assembly of Cooperative Catalysts

Dissipative self-assembly processes in nature rely on chemical fuels that activate proteins for assembly through the formation of a noncovalent complex. The catalytic activity of the assemblies causes fuel degradation, resulting in the formation of an assembly in a high-energy, out-of-equilibrium state. Herein, we apply this concept to a synthetic system and demonstrate that a substrate can induce the formation of vesicular assemblies, which act as cooperative catalysts for cleavage of the same substrate.

Substrate-Induced Self-Assembly of Cooperative Catalysts

Dissipative self-assembly processes in nature rely on chemical fuels that activate proteins for assembly through the formation of a noncovalent complex. The catalytic activity of the assemblies causes fuel degradation, resulting in the formation of an assembly in a high-energy, out-of-equilibrium state. Herein, we apply this concept to a synthetic system and demonstrate that a substrate can induce the formation of vesicular assemblies, which act as cooperative catalysts for cleavage of the same substrate.

Dissipative self-assembly of vesicular nanoreactors

Dissipative self-assembly is exploited by nature to control important biological functions, such as cell division, motility and signal transduction. The ability to construct synthetic supramolecular assemblies that require the continuous consumption of energy to remain in the functional state is an essential premise for the design of synthetic systems with lifelike properties. Here, we show a new strategy for the dissipative self-assembly of functional supramolecular structures with high structural complexity. It relies on the transient stabilization of vesicles through noncovalent interactions between the surfactants and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which acts as the chemical fuel. It is shown that the lifetime of the vesicles can be regulated by controlling the hydrolysis rate of ATP. The vesicles sustain a chemical reaction but only as long as chemical fuel is present to keep the system in the out-of-equilibrium state. The lifetime of the vesicles determines the amount of reaction product produced by the system.

A fluorescence assay that detects long branches in the starch polysaccharide amylopectin

Regions of consecutive α(1–4)-glucopyranose units in amylopectin are detected by turn-on fluorescence by extraction of amphiphilic probes from fluorescence-quenched spermidine-stabilised micelles.

Self-assembly of supra-amphiphiles based on dual charge-transfer interactions: from nanosheets to nanofibers

With the elaborate engineering of supra-amphiphiles based on dual charge-transfer interactions, the rational design and programmable transformation of well-defined 1D and 2D nanostructures have been demonstrated. First, H-shaped supra-amphiphiles are successfully obtained on the basis of the directional charge-transfer interactions of naphthalene diimide and naphthalene, which self-assemble in water to form 2D nanosheets. Second, by complexation of the H-shaped supra-amphiphiles with pyrene derivatives, the 2D nanosheets transform into ultralong 1D nanofibers. Therefore, this line of research represents a successful example of supramolecular engineering and has enriched its realm.

Fluorescence sensing of spermine with a frustrated amphiphile

A charge-frustrated amphiphile composed of a pyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate head group and an eicosane side chain can be used as a fluorescence chemosensor for spermine. The sensor allows the detection of spermine down to the nanomolar concentration range with good selectivity over closely related biogenic amines such as spermidine.