Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Youfeng Yue, Rika Hayashi, Yoshiko Yokota
Summary: Life is formed through self-assembly, a fundamental biological design process where ordered nanostructures are assembled from small parts. This work synthesizes a series of hydrogels through the co-self-assembly of two types of amphiphiles, incorporating soft and hard parts with nanostructures of different order parameters. It provides insights into the design of nanostructured anisotropic hydrogels with controlled morphological and mechanical properties.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jun Zheng, Xianwen Song, Zhaoyu Yang, Chao Yin, Weikang Luo, Chunyang Yin, Yaqiong Ni, Yang Wang, Yi Zhang
Summary: Self-assembling hydrogels composed of therapeutic agents offer a promising approach for local drug delivery, with advantages such as biocompatibility, high drug-loading efficiency, low systemic toxicity, and sustained drug release behavior. The self-assembly technique provides better opportunities to improve the precision of pharmaceutical treatment and achieve superior treatment efficacy.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yoshio Yano, Hidetaka Kasai, Yanyan Zheng, Eiji Nishibori, Yoshio Hisaeda, Toshikazu Ono
Summary: Mechanochemical synthesis was used to achieve multimolecular self-assembly in challenging three-component systems. The resulting crystals exhibited multicolor solid-state luminescence under UV light, which depended on the components. Optical and X-ray diffraction studies were conducted to investigate the self-assembling behavior. In situ X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation allowed for direct observation of the milling process, which initiated the self-assembly within 1 minute. This research highlights the importance of multicomponent molecules with optical functions and self-assembling behavior, and offers the potential for developing more complex multicomponent crystals and organic solid solutions for advanced materials.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nishu Goyal, Alam Nawaz, Kuldeep Singh Chandel, Devraja Devnarayan, Lalit Gupta, Siddharth Singh, Mohd Shariq Khan, Moonyong Lee, Amit Kumar Sharma
Summary: This review paper discusses the importance of carbon nanotubes in water and wastewater treatment, highlighting their unique material properties and advantages. It also emphasizes the need for a careful assessment of benefits versus risks in large-scale water treatment and the importance of ensuring environmental and human health safety.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
I. Caglar Tanrikulu, Lianna Dang, Lekha Nelavelli, Aubrey J. Ellison, Bradley D. Olsen, Song Jin, Ronald T. Raines
Summary: This study successfully designed synthetic collagen hydrogels by maximizing the interactions of the triple helix structure of collagen. It further explored the relationship between self-assembly of short CMPs and interfiber association.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
M. Monti, E. Scarel, A. Hassanali, M. Stener, S. Marchesan
Summary: This study uncovers the conformational differences that drive self-assembly of dipeptides into distinct outcomes. Through in silico and experimental data, the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra of self-assembling dipeptides were analyzed, revealing the importance of folded or extended conformers in the self-assembly process.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiao-Yun Yan, Qing-Yun Guo, Zhiwei Lin, Xian-You Liu, Jun Yuan, Jing Wang, Haomin Wang, Yuchu Liu, Zebin Su, Tong Liu, Jiahao Huang, Ruimeng Zhang, Yicong Wang, Mingjun Huang, Wei Zhang, Stephen Z. D. Cheng
Summary: By assembling T-shaped amphiphiles, polymeric molecular frameworks with good solution processability and thermal stability were successfully constructed, revealing their internal structure and demonstrating great potential in scalable fabrications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Wang, Fredrik G. Backlund, Yusheng Yuan, Selvakumaran Nagamani, Piotr Hanczyc, Lech Sznitko, Niclas Solin
Summary: By incorporating dyes into protein nanofibers, films with optically anisotropic domains are formed, leading to organized alignment and emission of polarized light by the ensemble of dyes. This process is demonstrated to be applicable to a variety of proteins, showing generality in its application.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bryan H. H. Ferlez, Henning Kirst, Basil J. J. Greber, Eva Nogales, Markus Sutter, Cheryl A. A. Kerfeld
Summary: Many bacteria use bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) to organize enzymatic reactions. Shell proteins derived from BMCs can self-assemble into various structures and are used in biotechnology. This study shows that empty synthetic shells with different end-cap structures can be derived from a specific microcompartment, demonstrating the plasticity of BMC-based biomaterials. It also discovers new nanotube and nanocone morphologies that share architectural principles with other structures.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
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)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
K. P. Sonu, Le Zhou, Santidan Biswas, John Klier, Anna C. Balazs, Todd Emrick, Shelly R. Peyton
Summary: Hydrogels are water-swollen networks that have various applications in biomaterials and biotechnology. This study successfully synthesized multifunctional polymers to create hydrogels with reversible and irreversible cross-links. These strain-stiffening hydrogels have potential applications as biomaterials, particularly in emerging fields like tissue engineering.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giorgio Speranza
Summary: Recent advances in nanomaterial design and synthesis have led to the development of robust sensing systems with superior analytical performance. Carbon-based sensors, known for their biocompatibility, sensitivity, selectivity, and low limits of detection, have been widely used for the detection of organic and inorganic molecules. Carbon nanomaterials, such as fullerenes, carbon onions, carbon quantum dots, nanodiamonds, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, have unique properties that make them ideal for sensing applications, showing promise for future developments.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan Liu, Fang-Zi Liu, Shi Li, Hua Liu, KaKing Yan
Summary: This study shows that transient and high-energy self-assembly intermediates in coordination self-assembly reactions can be obtained through ball-milling approaches. These intermediates, which are difficult to access in solution-based reactions, are successfully trapped in the solid state. The structures of these intermediates are determined using various characterization techniques. The results highlight the opportunity of using mechanochemistry to study coordination self-assembly reactions in a different chemical space compared to conventional solution-based approaches.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jing Zhang, Yipeng Qin, Yangteng Ou, Yu Shen, Bao Tang, Xiaoyun Zhang, Ziyi Yu
Summary: In this study, a new type of printable ink called photonic granular hydrogel was developed for constructing customized structural colored objects. This ink exhibits dynamic properties and can be used for direct writing of macroscopic structural colored patterns by extrusion 3D printing. It also allows additive color mixing, simplifying the process of nano-synthesis and expanding the color variety of structural colored materials.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qi-Zhi Zhong, Joseph J. Richardson, Ai He, Tian Zheng, Rene P. M. Lafleur, Jianhua Li, Wen-Ze Qiu, Denzil Furtado, Shuaijun Pan, Zhi-Kang Xu, Ling-Shu Wan, Frank Caruso
Summary: By employing a co-assembly strategy with quinone and polyamine building blocks, we have developed a method to precisely control the structure and properties of coatings on various materials, including thickness, adhesion, wettability, and zeta potential. The properties of the films can be tuned by increasing the length of the amine building blocks, and the films can be post-functionalized to form diverse nanostructures for various applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Giulia Marafon, Alessandro Moretto, David Zanuy, Carlos Aleman, Marco Crisma, Claudio Toniolo
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Esteban P. Urriolabeitia, Pablo Sanchez, Alexandra Pop, Cristian Silvestru, Eduardo Laga, Ana Jimenez, Carlos Cativiela
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Annika Urbanek, Matija Popovic, Carlos A. Elena-Real, Anna Morato, Alejandro Estana, Aurelie Fournet, Frederic Allemand, Ana M. Gil, Carlos Cativiela, Juan Cortes, Ana Jimenez, Nathalie Sibille, Pau Bernado
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ana M. Gil, Jordi Casanovas, Enric Mayans, Ana Jimenez, Jordi Puiggali, Carlos Aleman
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marcello Righetto, Francesco Carraro, Alberto Privitera, Giulia Marafon, Alessandro Moretto, Camilla Ferrante
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giulia Marafon, Marco Crisma, Anna Masato, Nicoletta Plotegher, Luigi Bubacco, Alessandro Moretto
Summary: Proteins undergo changes in their 3D structure and function through specific molecular interactions, which is crucial for sensing, processing, and transmitting information from the surrounding environment. The study of early aggregation steps of alpha-synuclein associated with Parkinson's disease showed that light-mediated binding with a photoactive foldamer can promote the process by generating supramolecular fibrillar seeds that act as molecular templates for inducing fast beta-sheet transitions in monomers. This proposed method provides a powerful tool for studying protein aggregation in misfolding diseases in a controlled and inducible system.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eduardo Laga, David Dalmau, Sofia Arregui, Olga Crespo, Ana I. Jimenez, Alexandra Pop, Cristian Silvestru, Esteban P. Urriolabeitia
Summary: The study successfully amplified the fluorescent properties of 4-arylidene-5(4H)-oxazolones by suppressing the hula-twist non-radiative deactivation pathway. This was achieved by bonding a Pd center to the N atom of the heterocycle and the ortho carbon of the arylidene ring simultaneously. The coordination of oxazolone to palladium efficiently suppressed the hula-twist deactivation pathway, resulting in a significant increase in quantum yield.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Sonia Sierra, David Dalmau, Sheila Higuera, Dario Cortes, Olga Crespo, Ana Jimenez, Alexandra Pop, Cristian Silvestru, Esteban P. Urriolabeitia
Summary: Irradiation of (Z)-2-phenyl-4-aryliden-5(4H)thiazolones 2 with blue light (465 nm) in CH2Cl2 solution induces [2 + 2]-photocycloaddition of the exocyclic C=C bonds, forming dispirocyclobutanes 3 with high stereoselectivity. Utilizing blue light (456 nm) in dry MeOH with BF3 center dot OEt2 results in monospirocyclobutanes 4 with full stereoselectivity, generating the epsilon-isomer. This methodology also leads to the formation of dihydrothiazoles 5 under certain reaction conditions.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Claudio Cometto, Aldo Ugolotti, Elisa Grazietti, Alessandro Moretto, Gregorio Bottaro, Lidia Armelao, Cristiana Di Valentin, Laura Calvillo, Gaetano Granozzi
Summary: This study reports the use of copper single atoms functionalized two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) as a catalyst for CO2 reduction (CO2RR). The correct GCN structure, adsorption sites, and coordination of Cu atoms were determined by experimental techniques and DFT calculations. Different products were obtained in different buffer solutions, showcasing the promising substrate stability of GCN for metal atoms.
NPJ 2D MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Sonia Sierra, M. Victoria Gomez, Ana Jimenez, Alexandra Pop, Cristian Silvestru, Maria Luisa Marin, Francisco Bosca, German Sastre, Enrique Gomez-Bengoa, Esteban P. Urriolabeitia
Summary: The [2+2] photocycloaddition of (Z)-2-phenyl-4-aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolones using a triplet photocatalyst has been investigated. The selective formation of cyclobutane-bis(oxazolone)s has been achieved, and the reaction mechanism has been studied using laser flash photolysis and density functional theory calculations.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Maria M. Perez-Madrigala, Ana M. Gilb, Jordi Casanovas, Ana I. Jimenez, Lorena P. Macor, Carlos Aleman
Summary: Peptide derivatives and their self-assembled supramolecular structures are potential in the design of novel biofunctional materials. This study examines the self-assembly process and properties of a novel triphenylalanine derivative. The results show that the strength of π-π stacking interactions between end-capping groups plays a crucial role in the morphology and growth of supramolecular structures.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
David Dalmau, Ana I. Jimenez, Esteban P. Urriolabeitia
Summary: The reaction between (Z)-4-aryliden-2-(2-acetoxyphenyl)-5(4H)oxazolones and H2SO4 results in the formation of (Z)4-aryliden-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5(4H)oxazolones. These oxazolones can act as potential C,N,O-tridentate ligands towards transition metals, and the resulting complexes exhibit high stability.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Carla Garcia-Sanz, Alicia Andreu, Blanca de las Rivas, Ana Jimenez, Alexandra Pop, Cristian Silvestru, Esteban P. Urriolabeitia, Jose M. Palomo
Summary: Different Pd complexes containing orthometallated push-pull oxazolones were successfully incorporated into two genetically engineered modified variants of the GTL enzyme, resulting in significantly increased catalytic activity, selectivity, and fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, the Pd-enzyme conjugates showed remarkable TOF values in the hydrogenation of arenes in aqueous media and demonstrated applicability in site-selective C-H activation reactions under mild conditions.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matteo Pollastrini, Giulia Marafon, Jonathan Clayden, Alessandro Moretto
Summary: This study presents a catalytic foldamer containing a fumaramide chromophore that acts as a light-sensitive switchable cofactor, triggering esterase activity when undergoing photoisomerization. The fumaramide/maleamide linker serves as a 'catalytic triad' bringing together Ser, His, and Asp residues for activation of catalytic activity in short foldamers.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudio Toniolo, Alessandro Moretto, Fernando Formaggio, Quirinus B. Broxterman, Marco Crisma
