Differential response of cholesterol based pyrimidine systems with oxyethylene type spacers to gelation and mesogen formation in the presence of alkali metal ions

Total Synthesis of Psammaplysins A, M, O, and Q and Ceratinamide A

The psammaplysins are a unique class of brominated marine alkaloids bearing a signature 5/7-spiroisoxazoline-oxepine core linked to a variable tyramine-derived unit. Here, we report the total synthesis of several members of this family via a dipolar cycloaddition between an in situ generated nitrile oxide and an unusual seven-membered enediol diether dipolarophile. Carefully orchestrated oxidative transformation toward the fully functionalized spirocycle and direct coupling with tyramine-derived amines provides access to five representative family members, psammaplysins A, M, O, and Q and ceratinamide A, the latter four for the first time. Additionally, kinetic resolution of a late-stage intermediate enables the first asymmetric synthesis of (-)-psammaplysin A, thereby confirming its absolute configuration.

Amphiphilic Polymers for Color Dispersion: Toward Stable and Low-Viscosity Inkjet Ink

Amphiphilic random and block copolymers were synthesized as potential inkjet inks. This study evaluated the potential of these polymers for color dispersion by examining the following factors: surface tension, zeta potential, viscosity, and particle size. Acrylic acid and (ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate were used as the hydrophilic molecular units. Styrene, butyl acrylate, and phenoxyethyl acrylate were used as hydrophobic units. Color dispersions were prepared by using organic dye and these amphiphilic polymers. The color dispersions containing random copolymers exhibited low viscosity, which is preferable for jetting, but the dye particles tended to sediment after the thermal aging test. In contrast, those containing block copolymers showed high viscosity, which was unsuitable for jetting. However, they retained their initial dispersion state after the aging test. The advantages and disadvantages of each monomer arrangement (random or block) were demonstrated, providing a future outlook on the molecular design of polymer dispersants for color dispersions.

Triple branched RGD modification on liposomes: A prospective strategy to enhance the glioma targeting efficiency

Glioma, as one of the most common primary intracranial tumors, is in an urgent need for specific targeting agents. Multi-branched RGD ligand is a promising alternative for liposome functionalization which combines the benefits of high affinity with α_vβ₃ receptors and proper branching structure in response to the receptor clustering. Herein, we designed and synthesized single branched, double branched and triple branched RGD ligand (1RGD-Chol, 2RGD-Chol and 3RGD-Chol) respectively, which were then modified on the liposomes to prepare six different kinds of liposomes (including 1RGD-Lip, 2RGD-Lip, 3RGD-Lip, 2 × 1RGD-Lip, 3 × 1RGD-Lip and unmodified Lip). Subsequently, a series of assays were conducted. The results exhibited that the liposome decorated with 3RGD-Chol ligand possessed superior cellular internalization ability in C6 cells and bEnd.3 cells, suggesting the strongest ability of 3RGD-Lip to target the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and glioma cells. Besides, both the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic assays revealed that PTX-3RGD-Lip had the strongest ability to inhibit the survival of C6 cells. Moreover, the enrichment of liposomes at tumor site was 3RGD-Lip > 3 × 1RGD-Lip ≈ 2RGD-Lip ≈ 2 × 1RGD-Lip > 1RGD-Lip > Lip according to the in vivo imaging of C6-bearing mice, which was consistent with the result of in vitro targeting experiments. To sum up, the targeting efficiency of liposomes can be strongly promoted by improving the amount of targeting molecules, whereas the branching structure and spatial distance of RGD residues also accounted for the affinity between liposomes and α_vβ₃ receptors. Collectively, PTX-3RGD-Lip would be a prospective strategy in glioma treatment.

Multi-color tunable circularly polarized luminescence in one single AIE system

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials with a large luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum) and multi-color properties are very attractive. While multi-color tunable CPL can be realized by different organic dyes, the challenge of realizing both a higher g_lum and multiple colors using a single component remains. Here, we design an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophore, which is a pyridine functionalized cyanostilbene attached to a chiral unit, and realize multi-color tunable CPL with a high g_lum. The compound can self-assemble into a nanohelix and form both gel and xerogel films, exhibiting blue CPL with large g_lum values of −3.0 × 10⁻² and −1.7 × 10⁻², respectively. With the assistance of pyridine protonation, the xerogel films exhibit red-shifted CPL signals from 480 nm to 530 nm, covering from blue via green and yellow to orange. Additionally, the g_lum remains constant during the process. This work paves a simple and convenient way to construct multi-color tunable CPL materials using a single molecule.

A multi-color tunable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) xerogel film with a large luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum) is achieved using a single compound upon protonation.

Perfluoroarene induces a pentapeptidic hydrotrope into a pH-tolerant hydrogel allowing naked eye sensing of Ca2+ ions

Self-assembly of a novel thermoresponsive, pyrene-appended oligopeptide sequence VPGKP (PyP) leads to the formation of spherical aggregates in water. The sizes of the globular aggregates of the peptide, PyP, strongly depend on the temperature of its suspension in water and decrease with the decrease in temperature showing a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phenomenon. Furthermore, a pyrene-octafluoronaphthalene (OFN) 'pair' has been used as a supramolecular synthon to induce hydrogelation of PyP in the presence of an equimolar amount of OFN via complementary quadrupole-quadrupole interactions. The gel shows excellent pH tolerance and thixotropic behavior. Detailed studies suggest the existence of lamellar packing of the gelators in a right-handed helical fashion which yields globular aggregates. The globular aggregates are sticky in nature and form a gel via inter-globular interactions. Addition of Ca2+ ions reinforces the mechanical strength and also reduces the critical gelator concentration of the native gel through coordination with the free -COO- group of the gelator. Therefore, the present hydrogel system could further be used as a naked eye sensor of Ca2+ ions.

Palladium-induced transformation of nematic liquid crystals to robust metallogel comprising self-assembled nanowires

Transformation of nematic liquid crystals to metallogels.

Impact of "half-crown/two carbonyl"-Ca2+ metal ion interactions of a low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) on its fiber to nanosphere morphology transformation with a gel-to-sol phase transition

We report here a smart functional low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) L, containing an unusual metal ion coordination site, i.e. "half-crown/two carbonyl". The gelator L shows excellent gelation behavior with typical fibrillar morphology in acetonitrile, methanol and ethanol media. Upon Ca2+ ion binding with its "half-crown/two carbonyl" coordination site, the acetonitrile gel of L exhibits a fiber to nanosphere morphology transformation along with a gel-to-sol phase transition as confirmed by microscopic investigation and by direct naked eye visualization, respectively. The mechanism involved in this morphology transformation and gel-to-sol phase transition process was studied thoroughly with the help of computational calculations and various spectroscopic experiments and discussed.

Photo-responsive liquid crystals derived from azobenzene centered cholesterol-based tetramers

Azobenzene centered cholesterol based tetramers showing spherulitic domains and photoresponsive behaviour in solution as well as Langmuir monolayers.

A new class of organogelators based on triphenylmethyl derivatives of primary alcohols: hydrophobic interactions alone can mediate gelation

In the present work, we have explored the use of the triphenylmethyl group, a commonly used protecting group for primary alcohols as a gelling structural component in the design of molecular gelators. We synthesized a small library of triphenylmethyl derivatives of simple primary alcohols and studied their gelation properties in different solvents. Gelation efficiency for some of the derivatives was moderate to excellent with a minimum gelation concentration ranging between 0.5–4.0% w/v and a gel–sol transition temperature range of 31–75 °C. 1,8-Bis(trityloxy)octane, the ditrityl derivative of 1,8-octanediol was the most efficient organogelator. Detailed characterizations of the gel were carried out using scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, rheology and powder XRD techniques. This gel also showed a good absorption profile for a water soluble dye. Given the non-polar nature of this molecule, gel formation is likely to be mediated by hydrophobic interactions between the triphenylmethyl moieties and alkyl chains. Possible self-assembled packing arrangements in the gel state for 1,8-bis(trityloxy)octane and (hexadecyloxymethanetriyl)tribenzene are presented. Results from this study strongly indicate that triphenylmethyl group is a promising gelling structural unit which may be further exploited in the design of small molecule based gelators.

Synthesis, mesomorphic and photophysical properties of novel triads and pentads of perylene liquid crystals with cholesterol units at the bay-position

Perylene derivatives with cholesterol units at the bay-position exhibited good mesomorphic and photophysical properties.

Carbon-Nanotube-Mediated Electrochemical Transition in a Redox-Active Supramolecular Hydrogel Derived from Viologen and an l-Alanine-Based Amphiphile

A two-component hydrogelator (16-A)2 -V(2+) , comprising an l-alanine-based amphiphile (16-A) and a redox-active viologen based partner (V(2+) ), is reported. The formation the hydrogel depended, not only on the acid-to-amine stoichiometric ratio, but on the choice of the l-amino acid group and also on the hydrocarbon chain length of the amphiphilic component. The redox responsive property and the electrochemical behavior of this two-component system were further examined by step-wise chemical and electrochemical reduction of the viologen nucleus (V(2+) /V(+) and V(+) /V(0) ). The half-wave reduction potentials (E1/2 ) associated with the viologen ring shifted to more negative values with increasing amine component. This indicates that higher extent of salt formation hinders reduction of the viologen moiety. Interestingly, the incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the electrochemically irreversible hydrogel (16-A)2 -V(2+) transformed it into a quasi-reversible electrochemical system.

Multifarious facets of sugar-derived molecular gels: molecular features, mechanisms of self-assembly and emerging applications

The remarkable capability of nature to design and create excellent self-assembled nano-structures, especially in the biological world, has motivated chemists to mimic such systems with synthetic molecular and supramolecular systems. The hierarchically organized self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) based on non-covalent interactions has been proven to be a useful tool in the development of well-defined nanostructures. Among these, the self-assembly of sugar-derived LMWGs has received immense attention because of their propensity to furnish biocompatible, hierarchical, supramolecular architectures that are macroscopically expressed in gel formation. This review sheds light on various aspects of sugar-derived LMWGs, uncovering their mechanisms of gelation, structural analysis, and tailorable properties, and their diverse applications such as stimuli-responsiveness, sensing, self-healing, environmental problems, and nano and biomaterials synthesis.

Ag+-induced reverse vesicle to helical fiber transformation in a self-assembly by adjusting the keto–enol equilibrium of a chiral salicylideneaniline

A chiral salicylideneaniline shows Ag⁺-induced reverse vesicle-to-helical nanofiber transformation accompanied by sol-to-gel transition at room temperature.