Luminescent Supramolecular Nano- or Microstructures Formed in Aqueous Media by Amphiphile-Noble Metal Complexes

The involvement of metal ions within the self-assembly spontaneously occurring in surfactant-based systems gives additional and interesting features. The electronic states of the metal, together with the bonds that can be established with the organic amphiphilic counterpart, are the factors triggering new photophysical properties. Moreover, the availability of stimuli-responsive supramolecular amphiphile assemblies, able to disassemble in a back-process, provides reversible switching particularly useful in novel approaches and applications giving rise to truly smart materials. In particular, small amphiphiles with an inner distribution, within their molecular architecture, of various polar and apolar functional groups, can give a wide variety of interactions and therefore enriched self-assemblies. If it is joined with the opportune presence and localization of noble metals, whose chemical and photophysical properties are undiscussed, then very interesting materials can be obtained. In this minireview, the basic concepts on self-assembly of small amphiphilic molecules with noble metals are shown with particular reference to the photophysical properties aiming at furnishing to the reader a panoramic view of these exciting problematics. In this respect, the following will be shown: (i) the principles of self-assembly of amphiphiles that involve noble metals, (ii) examples of amphiphiles and amphiphile-noble metal systems as representatives of systems with enhanced photophysical properties, and (iii) final comments and perspectives with some examples of modern applications.

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Self-assembly of dual-responsive amphiphilic POEGMA-b-P4VP-b-POEGMA triblock copolymers: Effect of temperature, pH, and complexation with Cu2+

Polymer Chemistry ◽

10.1039/d1py00716e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Daniela M. Zanata ◽

Maria Isabel Felisberti

Keyword(s):

Smart Materials ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Triblock Copolymers ◽

Critical Micellar Concentration ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Important Class ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Dual Responsive

Amphiphilic and stimuli-responsive triblock copolymers are an important class of smart materials due to their low critical micellar concentration in solution and capacity of self-assembly into different structures depending on...

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Morphology-tunable and pH-responsive supramolecular self-assemblies based on AB2-type host–guest-conjugated amphiphilic molecules for controlled drug delivery

Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry ◽

10.3762/bjoc.15.188 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. 1925-1932 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yang Bai ◽

Cai-ping Liu ◽

Di Chen ◽

Long-hai Zhuo ◽

Huai-tian Bu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Controlled Drug Delivery ◽

Transition Process ◽

Hydrodynamic Diameter ◽

Cancer Cell Proliferation ◽

Acidic Ph ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Amphiphilic Molecules ◽

Acidic Conditions

Although stimuli-responsive supramolecular self-assemblies have been constructed, the controlled drug delivery induced by morphology transitions of these supramolecular self-assemblies on the basis of host–guest-conjugated monomers (HGCMs) are few reported. In this paper, the self-assembly behaviors of AB2-type HGCMs, e.g., β-cyclodextrin-benzimidazole2 (β-CD-BM2), were investigated at neutral and acidic pH conditions, respectively. Specifically, β-CD-BM2 first self-assembled into fan-shaped supramolecular self-assemblies with a hydrodynamic diameter of 163 nm at neutral pH, whereas they were further dissociated into spherical supramolecular self-assemblies with a size of 52 nm under acidic conditions. This morphology transition process was utilized to conduct a two-stage DOX delivery under neutral and acidic pH. Basic cell experiments demonstrated that the drug-loaded β-CD-BM2-based supramolecular self-assemblies with varied morphology could inhibit cancer cell proliferation, indicating their potential application in the field of drug delivery.

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Preparing highly-dispersed noble metal supported mesoporous silica catalysts by reductive amphiphilic molecules

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c6ra23875k ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (113) ◽

pp. 112193-112200 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shengyang Tao ◽

Huan Wang ◽

Huilong Wang

Keyword(s):

Mesoporous Silica ◽

Noble Metal ◽

Noble Metals ◽

Reduction Strategy ◽

Amphiphilic Molecules ◽

Highly Dispersed

We present an in situ reduction strategy to prepare mesoporous silica supported by highly-dispersed noble metals.

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Self-organizing bioinspired oligothiophene–oligopeptide hybrids

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology ◽

10.3762/bjnano.2.57 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 525-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Alexey K Shaytan ◽

Eva-Kathrin Schillinger ◽

Elena Mena-Osteritz ◽

Sylvia Schmid ◽

Pavel G Khalatur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smart Materials ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Large Scale ◽

Molecular Organization ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Theoretical Approaches ◽

Semiconducting Properties ◽

Quantum Chemistry Calculations ◽

Molecular Hybrids ◽

Dynamics Simulations

In this minireview, we survey recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and modeling of new oligothiophene–oligopeptide hybrids capable of forming nanostructured fibrillar aggregates in solution and on solid substrates. Compounds of this class are promising for applications because their self-assembly and stimuli-responsive properties, provided by the peptide moieties combined with the semiconducting properties of the thiophene blocks, can result in novel opportunities for the design of advanced smart materials. These bio-inspired molecular hybrids are experimentally shown to form stable fibrils as visualized by AFM and TEM. While the experimental evidence alone is not sufficient to reveal the exact molecular organization of the fibrils, theoretical approaches based on quantum chemistry calculations and large-scale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations are attempted in an effort to reveal the structure of the fibrils at the nanoscale. Based on the combined theoretical and experimental analysis, the most likely models of fibril formation and aggregation are suggested.

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Recent Advances in Nanomicelles Delivery Systems

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11010070 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 70

Author(s):

Salah M. Tawfik ◽

Shavkatjon Azizov ◽

Mohamed R. Elmasry ◽

Mirkomil Sharipov ◽

Yong-Ill Lee

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Aqueous Media ◽

New Drugs ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Molecular Weights ◽

Therapeutic Drugs ◽

Shape Selective ◽

Selective Delivery

The efficient and selective delivery of therapeutic drugs to the target site remains the main obstacle in the development of new drugs and therapeutic interventions. Up until today, nanomicelles have shown their prospective as nanocarriers for drug delivery owing to their small size, good biocompatibility, and capacity to effectively entrap lipophilic drugs in their core. Nanomicelles are formed via self-assembly in aqueous media of amphiphilic molecules into well-organized supramolecular structures. Molecular weights and structure of the core and corona forming blocks are important properties that will determine the size of nanomicelles and their shape. Selective delivery is achieved via novel design of various stimuli-responsive nanomicelles that release drugs based on endogenous or exogenous stimulations such as pH, temperature, ultrasound, light, redox potential, and others. This review summarizes the emerging micellar nanocarriers developed with various designs, their outstanding properties, and underlying principles that grant targeted and continuous drug delivery. Finally, future perspectives, and challenges for nanomicelles are discussed based on the current achievements and remaining issues.

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Carbocycle-Based Organogelators: Influence of Chirality and Structural Features on Their Supramolecular Arrangements and Properties

Gels ◽

10.3390/gels7020054 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 54

Author(s):

Rosa M. Ortuño

Keyword(s):

Smart Materials ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Rational Design ◽

Structural Features ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Polycyclic Compounds ◽

Relative Configuration ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Self Assembling ◽

Donor Acceptor

The rational design and engineer of organogel-based smart materials and stimuli-responsive materials with tuned properties requires the control of the non-covalent forces driving the hierarchical self-assembly. Chirality, as well as cis/trans relative configuration, also plays a crucial role promoting the morphology and characteristics of the aggregates. Cycloalkane derivatives can provide chiral chemical platforms allowing the incorporation of functional groups and hydrophobic structural units able for a convenient molecular stacking leading to gels. Restriction of the conformational freedom imposed by the ring strain is also a contributing issue that can be modulated by the inclusion of flexible segments. In addition, donor/acceptor moieties can also be incorporated favoring the interactions with light or with charged species. This review offers a perspective on the abilities and properties of carbocycle-based organogelators starting from simple cycloalkane derivatives, which were the key to establish the basis for an effective self-assembling, to sophisticated polycyclic compounds with manifold properties and applications.

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Responsive Nanostructured Polymer Particles

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13020273 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 273

Author(s):

Kang Hee Ku

Keyword(s):

Smart Materials ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Research Field ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Polymer Particles ◽

Future Directions ◽

Nanostructured Polymer ◽

Polymer Architectures ◽

Shape Controlled ◽

Shape Tuning

Responsive polymer particles with switchable properties are of great importance for designing smart materials in various applications. Recently, the self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) and polymer blends within evaporative emulsions has led to advances in the shape-controlled synthesis of polymer particles. Despite extensive recent progress on BCP particles, the responsive shape tuning of BCP particles and their applications have received little attention. This review provides a brief overview of recent approaches to developing non-spherical polymer particles from soft evaporative emulsions based on the physical principles affecting both particle shape and inner structure. Special attention is paid to the stimuli-responsive, shape-changing nanostructured polymer particles, i.e., design of polymers and surfactant pairs, detailed experimental results, and their applications, including the state-of-the-art progress in this field. Finally, the perspectives on current challenges and future directions in this research field are presented, including the development of surfactants with higher reversibility to multiple stimuli and polymers with unique structural functionality, and diversification of polymer architectures.

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