Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Frederic Grabowski, Vladislav S. Petrovskii, Fabian Fink, Dan Eugen Demco, Sonja Herres-Pawlis, Igor I. Potemkin, Andrij Pich
Summary: This article presents a computer simulation-driven experimental synthesis approach to fabricate programmable soft colloidal macromolecular structures through supramolecular self-assembly and polymerization of tailored monomers. The study demonstrates that the morphology of microgels can be tuned from spherical to raspberry-like or dumbbell-like by adjusting the loading of pyrazole-modified monomers. The work provides a quantitative and predictive method for guiding microgel design and can be extended to other colloidal systems and soft materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Se-Hyeong Jung, Fabian Meyer, Sven Hoernig, Michelle Bund, Bernhard Haessel, Luis Paulo Busca Guerzoni, Laura De Laporte, Ghazi Ben Messaoud, Silvia P. Centeno, Andrij Pich
Summary: A versatile method for creating colloidal suprastructures is demonstrated using droplet-based microfluidics to assemble and interlink microgels. The behavior of the microgels is investigated to understand their distribution between the continuous phase, droplet phase, and interface. On-chip gelation using natural polyphenol tannic acid (TA) is introduced to stabilize the colloidal suprastructures by supramolecular interactions. This work allows for the on-chip fabrication of defined colloidal suprastructures with various morphologies, and the resulting supracolloidal structures exhibit pH-responsive behavior.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes Menath, Jack Eatson, Robert Brilmayer, Annette Andrieu-Brunsen, D. Martin A. Buzza, Nicolas Vogel
Summary: Researchers have successfully designed two-dimensional assemblies with structural complexity by utilizing the distinct interfacial morphology of soft particles. They found that core-shell particles can form complex chain and cluster structures under interfacial compression. Through a combination of experimental, simulation, and theoretical analysis, the interaction parameter of the system was narrowed down to between 0.9 and 2.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Aylin Uslu, Serkan Yesilot
Summary: Cyclophosphazenes are a unique class of compounds that are easily functionalized and thermally stable, suitable for constructing various supramolecular structures such as host-guest complexes and polymer systems. The nitrogen atoms in the ring can participate in non-covalent interactions like hydrogen bonding and metal coordination. Through 30 years of application, cyclophosphazenes have played a significant role in the construction of supramolecular systems.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuyuan Zheng, Xue Jin, Jin Zhou, Pengfei Duan, Qiang Ye, Jianlei Han
Summary: Two axially chiral fluorophores derived from anthracene were designed and synthesized in this study. The chiroptical behavior of these molecules, including solvent-dependent emission and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), was thoroughly investigated. Unexpected supramolecular self-assembly driven by strong pi-pi interaction resulted in significant hypsochromic shift and fluorescence intensity enhancement, as well as an increase in the luminescence dissymmetry factor of CPL activity. This work presents a novel approach to achieve supramolecular CPL materials with high luminescence quantum efficiency and circular polarization.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiangyang Bai, Qingxue Sun, Hao Cui, Luis P. B. Guerzoni, Stefan Wuttke, Fabian Kiessling, Laura De Laporte, Twan Lammers, Yang Shi
Summary: Polymer self-assembly is a crucial process in materials engineering, but currently most methods are based on non-covalent bonding. In this study, a novel mechanism of covalent polymer self-assembly is discovered, addressing the drawbacks of non-covalent self-assembly. By tuning the covalent crosslinking rate, precise control over the size range of nanogels is achieved. This innovative assembly method has the potential to revolutionize multiscale materials fabrication in applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dnyaneshwar I. Bhusanur, Dinesh N. Nadimetla, Sarvesh S. Harmalkar, Rajesh S. Bhosale, Avinash L. Puyad, Sopan M. Wagalgave, Sidhanath V. Bhosale, Sheshanath V. . Bhosale
Summary: In this study, two new chromophores based on the donor-acceptor-donor structure were designed and synthesized. The fluorescence properties and self-assembly behavior of these chromophores were investigated, revealing interesting morphologies in solution and crystalline fibrous structures through self-assembly.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Keigo Tashiro, Takuho Saito, Hironari Arima, Natsuki Suda, Balaraman Vedhanarayanan, Shiki Yagai
Summary: Chemists have constructed sophisticated artificial nanostructured systems through self-assembly, including scissor-shaped photochromic dyads that hierarchically self-assemble into discrete nanostructures with photoresponsive properties. These nanostructures, such as azobenzene dyads, can be dissociated and reorganized through the photoisomerization of azobenzene units, enabling controllable and adjustable structures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jacopo Vialetto, Fabrizio Camerin, Fabio Grillo, Shivaprakash N. Ramakrishna, Lorenzo Rovigatti, Emanuela Zaccarelli, Lucio Isa
Summary: Soft colloidal particles confined at fluid interfaces play a crucial role in various technological processes, and their internal architecture and mechanical properties are closely related. By synthesizing core-shell microgels with controllable core degradation, researchers have found that hollow particles exhibit temperature-responsive collapse and flattening at fluid interfaces. Mechanical characterization showed that a critical degree of core removal is necessary to obtain soft disk-like particles at an oil-water interface.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ikuya Matsumoto, Ryo Sekiya, Takeharu Haino
Summary: By decorating nanographenes with alkyl chains and controlling concentration, solvent polarity, temperature, and sonication, it is possible to achieve self-assembly and formation of stacked structures. Optical measurements and AFM images confirm the presence of stacked structures, while molecular mechanics calculations model the interactions within the aggregates. The nanographenes exhibit concentration-dependent morphologies, forming stacked structures at low concentrations and polymer-like network structures at higher concentrations on mica.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raviv Dharan, Asaf Shemesh, Abigail Millgram, Ran Zalk, Gabriel A. Frank, Yael Levi-Kalisman, Israel Ringel, Uri Raviv
Summary: This study demonstrates that spermine can induce the in vitro assembly of tubulin into various hierarchical structures, including conical-spiral tubes and inverted hexagonal bundles, depending on the concentration of spermine. The increase in spermine concentration leads to longer tubes and the formation of a new type of tubulin assembly. These findings provide insights into the versatile morphologies of tubulin assemblies and the potential interactions controlling protein-based biomaterial composition and construction.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jian-Cai Liu, Jie-Fei Wang, Qing Han, Ping Shangguan, Lu-Lu Liu, Li-Juan Chen, Jun-Wei Zhao, Carsten Streb, Yu-Fei Song
Summary: The study demonstrates how the aggregation of giant molecular metal oxide superstructures can be driven using organotin and lanthanide cations, with detailed structural analysis. Initial biomedical tests show inhibitory effects of the compound on cancer cell proliferation, indicating potential applications in cancer treatment.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jingjing Han, Haoning Gong, Xiaokang Ren, Xuehai Yan
Summary: This article introduces the research field of peptide-based supramolecular nanozymes, emphasizing the importance and versatility of peptides as building blocks, as well as the potential for regulating catalytic performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zongshang Li, Ke Xiao, Qingyun Wan, Rui Tang, Kam-Hung Low, Xiaodong Cui, Chi-Ming Che
Summary: The introduction of multiple kinetic aggregation states (Aggs) into the self-assembly pathway can increase the complexity and flexibility of the self-assemblies. This was achieved by using a series of chiral and achiral d(10) Au-I bis(N-heterocyclic carbene, NHC) complexes, where the achiral complex could undergo self-assembly with multiple kinetic Aggs. The chiral Au-I self-assemblies exhibited nonlinear optical response of second harmonic generation (SHG) and could function as optical waveguides with strong emission polarization, while these properties were absent in the achiral analogue.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sylvain Sudan, Farzaneh Fadaei-Tirani, Rosario Scopelliti, Kristina E. Ebbert, Guido H. Clever, Kay Severin
Summary: Thirteen palladium-ligand assemblies with different structures and topologies were studied for their ability to bind lithium ions. It was found that the addition of LiBF4 caused a significant structural rearrangement in one case, converting a dinuclear [Pd2L4](4+) complex into a low-symmetry [Pd4L8](8+) assembly with two binding pockets for solvated LiBF4 ion pairs. This rearrangement was only induced by Li+, indicating highly specific host-guest interactions. Structural analysis revealed that the [Pd4L8](8+) receptor had a compact structure with multiple intramolecular interactions, similar to natural and synthetic foldamers.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guanqun Du, Alessandra Del Giudice, Viveka Alfredsson, Anna M. Carnerup, Kaizheng Zhu, Bo Nystrom, Yilin Wang, Luciano Galantini, Karin Schillen, Domagoj Belic
Summary: The condensation of DNA helices into hexagonally packed bundles and toroids is a fascinating example of functional organization of biological macromolecules at the nanoscale. Researchers have successfully reproduced a DNA-like condensation with supramolecular helices of small chiral molecules, suggesting a more general phenomenon. The study reveals unknown similarities between covalent and supramolecular non-covalent helical polyelectrolytes, potentially inspiring the construction of supramolecular versions of biological macromolecules in the future.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sara Battista, Pierangelo Bellio, Lorenza Fagnani, Elena Allegritti, Lisaurora Nazzicone, Luciano Galantini, Giuseppe Celenza, Luisa Giansanti
Summary: Although primarily investigated for drug delivery, liposomes can also exhibit pharmacological activity based on their composition. The molecular structure of liposome components affects their interaction with bacterial cells and antimicrobial properties. Liposomal formulations with N-oxide are effective against Gram-positive bacteria.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Neda Amanat, Berardino Barbati, Marta M. Rossi, Marco Bellagamba, Marco Buccolini, Luciano Galantini, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: This study investigated the abilities of sugar-based synthetic surfactants and biosurfactants to dissolve and mobilize non-aqueous phase liquid components adsorbed on porous matrices. The results show that a synthetic surfactant from the APG family with a long fatty acid chain and a di-rhamnolipid biosurfactant with a shorter hydrophobic group offered the highest efficiency values.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangchen Zhang, Yaxun Fan, Luciano Galantini, Karin Schillen, Alessandra Del Giudice, Guanqun Du, Yilin Wang
Summary: A class of noncovalent antimicrobials composed of bile acid oligomers and polyamines has been developed, showing strong antibacterial activity against methicillinand vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus without significant cytotoxicity and skin irritation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meriem Saadli, Dominik L. L. Braunmiller, Ahmed Mourran, Jerome J. Crassous
Summary: This study focuses on the synthesis of micro-actuators that respond to thermal and magnetic stimuli using micro-molding with a soft template as a fabrication technique. Varying the shape, volume, and composition of the micro-actuators during synthesis provides a temperature-dependent control over the magnetic response and the polarizability. Temperature control determines the conformation and simultaneously the magnetic response of the micro-actuators.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cristina Tortolini, Valeria Gigli, Antonio Angeloni, Luciano Galantini, Federico Tasca, Riccarda Antiochia
Summary: In this work, a simple electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the detection of D-dimer protein in human plasma samples. The immunosensor was constructed by drop-casting chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) as a biocompatible support, Protein A (PrA) to facilitate antibody orientation, and D-dimer antibody onto a carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes screen printed electrode (MWCNTs-SPE). The immunosensor showed promising performance in antibody immobilization and specific D-dimer detection, with a linear range from 2 to 500 μg L-1, LOD of 0.6 μg L-1, and sensitivity of 1.3 μA L μg(-1) cm(-2). The stability and fast response time (5 s) were also reported. Moreover, the immunosensor demonstrated satisfactory results in detecting D-dimer in human plasma samples.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabian Hagemans, Fabrizio Camerin, Nabanita Hazra, Janik Lammertz, Frederic Dux, Giovanni Del Monte, Olli-Ville Laukkanen, Jerome J. Crassous, Emanuela Zaccarelli, Walter Richtering
Summary: Hollow microgels are interesting model systems that can deform, interpenetrate, and shrink under certain conditions. In this study, microgels with a micrometer-sized cavity were characterized using fluorescence microscopy techniques. It was found that these microgels reversibly buckle above a critical osmotic pressure, unlike smaller hollow microgels which deswell at high volume fractions. Simulations confirmed the buckling transition and suggested that a thin shell model theory can describe the behavior of these microgels. The microgels, referred to as microgel capsules, can be used to probe interfacial properties and mimic anisotropic responsive biological systems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandra Del Giudice, Libero Gurrieri, Luciano Galantini, Silvia Fanti, Paolo Trost, Francesca Sparla, Simona Fermani
Summary: CP12 is a redox-dependent conditionally disordered protein found in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. It acts as a light-dependent redox switch in regulating the metabolic phase of photosynthesis. A small angle X-ray scattering analysis confirmed the disordered nature of this protein and showed a decrease in size and conformational disorder upon oxidation. The presence of disulfide bonds in the oxidized form does not confer rigidity to the protein structure, highlighting the importance of recruiting partner proteins for its final folding.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Julia Jianwei Tan, Natalie Gjerde, Alessandra Del Giudice, Kenneth D. Knudsen, Luciano Galantini, Guanqun Du, Karin Schillen, Sverre Arne Sande, Bo Nystrom
Summary: This study investigates the interactions between cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (catHEC) and sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) or sodium cholate (NaC). It is found that there are strong interactions between catHEC and NaDC, while the interactions with NaC are weak. This difference may be due to the ability of NaDC to form more connections and entanglements.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lea Steinbeck, Dominik L. Braunmiller, Hanna J. M. Wolff, Vincent Huettche, Julia Wang, Matthias Wessling, Jerome J. Crassous, John Linkhorst
Summary: Complex-shaped microgels with active and remote orientational control have great potential in the field of soft metamaterials. This work introduces a method for spatio-temporal flow control using magnetically actuable microgels of complex shape, and demonstrates the concept in microfluidic impellers. The fabrication of these microgels is achieved through stop-flow lithography, and their magnetic response is comprehensively quantified. These complex-shaped microgels are then integrated as actuable impellers in a microfluidic chip, showcasing the versatility of the fabrication methodology.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iolanda Francolini, Luciano Galantini, Fernando Rea, Cristiano Di Cosimo, Pierpaolo Di Cosimo
Summary: Polymeric wet-strength agents are important additives used in the paper industry to improve paper products' mechanical properties when exposed to water. They enhance durability, strength, and dimensional stability. This review provides an overview of wet-strength agents, their mechanisms, challenges, and recent advances in developing sustainable and environmentally friendly agents. As demand for sustainable and durable paper products grows, the use of wet-strength agents is expected to increase.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Elena Allegritti, Sara Battista, Maria Anna Maggi, Claudia Marconi, Luciano Galantini, Luisa Giansanti
Summary: This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of mixed liposomes for delivering levodopa and two natural substances to treat Parkinson's disease. The results show that the composition of the liposomes plays a significant role in the delivery of levodopa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaoyan Liu, Thorsten Auth, Nabanita Hazra, Morten Frend Ebbesen, Jonathan Brewer, Gerhard Gompper, Jerome J. Crassous, Emma Sparr
Summary: This paper investigates how the wrapping of colloidal particles by lipid membranes can be controlled by various factors such as particle shape, particle-membrane adhesion energy, membrane phase behavior, and membrane-bending rigidity. The study shows that ellipsoidal microgel particles are more likely to form deep-wrapped states compared to spherical particles. The findings have implications for the design of novel biomaterials and therapeutic applications involving nanoparticle-membrane interactions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Natalie Solfrid Gjerde, Alessandra Del Giudice, Kaizheng Zhu, Kenneth D. Knudsen, Luciano Galantini, Karin Schillen, Bo Nystrom
Summary: In this study, a diblock copolymer called methoxy-poly(ethyleneglycol)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MPEG-b-PCL) was synthesized with a unique block composition that allows it to exhibit both an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) and a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solutions. The UCST value was found to be 32°C upon heating and 23°C upon cooling, while the LCST remained unaffected. Various characterization techniques revealed that the solution consisted of spherical core-shell particles and rodlike objects at intermediate temperatures, cylindrical core-shell crystals at low temperatures, and large aggregation complexes at temperatures above 52°C. This work provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between UCST and LCST and the resulting structures formed in aqueous solutions of MPEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Natalie Solfrid Gjerde, Alessandro Nicola Nardi, Cheng Giuseppe Chen, Paolo Di Gianvincenzo, Marco D'Abramo, Anita Scipioni, Luciano Galantini, Sergio E. Moya, Mauro Giustini
Summary: Anthracycline doxorubicin hydrochloride (DX), a positively charged fluorescent drug, can self-associate into non-fluorescent antiparallel dimers in water. When complexed with polyanion polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), the fluorescence of DX is quenched, but can be recovered with increased ionic strength. Molecular dynamics studies suggest a preferential orientation of DX into parallel dimers when interacting with PSS.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
