Search results for "Molecular chemistry"
showing 10 items of 1103 documents
Docetaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles Assembled from β-Cyclodextrin/Calixarene Giant Surfactants: Physicochemical Properties and Cytotoxic Effect in Prostat…
2017
Giant amphiphiles encompassing a hydrophilic β-cyclodextrin (βCD) component and a hydrophobic calix[4]arene (CA4) module undergo self-assembly in aqueous media to afford core-shell nanospheres or nanocapsules, depending on the nanoprecipitation protocol, with high docetaxel (DTX) loading capacity. The blank and loaded nanoparticles have been fully characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The data are compatible with the distribution of the drug between the nanoparticle core and the shell, where it is probably anchored by inclusion of the DTX aromatic moieties in βCD cavities. Indeed, the release kinetics …
Hyper-reticulated calixarene polymers: a new example of entirely synthetic nanosponge materials
2018
New calixarene-based nanosponges (CaNSs), i.e., hyper-reticulated polymers constituted by calixarene monomer units joined by means of bis(1,2,3-trialzolyl)alkyl linkers, were synthesized, characterized and subjected to preliminary tests to assess their supramolecular absorption abilities towards a set of suitable organic guests, selected as pollutant models. The synthesis was accomplished by means of a CuAAC reaction between a tetrakis(propargyloxy)calix[4]arene and an alkyl diazide. The formation of the polymeric network was assessed by means of FTIR and 13C{1H} CP-MAS solid-state NMR techniques, whereas morphological characterization was provided by SEM microghaphy. The materials were pro…
Calorimetry: a Valuable Tool for Emerging Smart Nanomaterials
2012
It is well known that calorimetry is a powerful technique to determine the complete energetics (standard free energy, enthalpy and entropy) of interaction processes. We are now assisting to the increment of the use of nano-calorimetry, which appears rather versatile because it can evidence weak interactions quickly and accurately and, furthermore, needs very small amounts of material. Unfortunately, over the years the calorimetry has been applied to restricted fields so that it has been underemployed in studying smart nanomaterials (polypseudorotaxanes, polymeric aggregates, surface functionalized nanoparticles, nanocomposites, etc.) to which a tremendous scientific interest has been recent…
Bringing a Molecular Plus One : Synergistic Binding Creates Guest-Mediated Three-Component Complexes
2020
C-Ethyl-2-Methylresorcinarene (A), pyridine (B), and a set of ten carboxylic acids (Cn) associate to form A·B·Cn ternary assemblies with 1:1:1 stoichiometry, representing a useful class of ternary systems where the guest mediates complex formation between the host and a third component. Although individually weak in solution, the combined strength of the multiple non-covalent interactions organizes the complexes even in a highly hydrogen-bond competing methanol solution as explored by both experimental and computational methods. The interactions be-tween A·B and Cn are dependent on the pKa values of carboxylic acids. The weak interactions between A and C further reinforce the interactions b…
Definition of the chalcogen bond (IUPAC Recommendations 2019)
2019
Abstract This recommendation proposes a definition for the term “chalcogen bond”; it is recommended the term is used to designate the specific subset of inter- and intramolecular interactions formed by chalcogen atoms wherein the Group 16 element is the electrophilic site.
Kinetically Controlled Stepwise Self-Assembly of AuI-Metallopeptides in Water
2018
The combination of attractive supramolecular interactions of a hydrophobic AuI-metallopeptide with the shielding effect of flexible oligoethylene glycol chains provides access to a stepwise self-assembly of a AuI-metalloamphiphile in water. Kinetic control of the supramolecular polymer morphology is achieved using a temperature-dependent assembly protocol, which yields low dispersity supramolecular polymers (metastable state I) or helical bundled nanorods (state II).
Polyaminocyclodextrin nanosponges: synthesis, characterization and pH-responsive sequestration abilities
2016
New pH-responsive nanosponges were obtained by reacting four different polyaminocyclodextrins with heptakis-(6-bromo)-(6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin. The materials obtained were characterized by various techniques (FT-IR, potentiometric titration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), porosimetry (BET), 13C{1H} CP-MAS NMR). Their adsorption abilities at different pH values were verified towards a suitable set of model guests, and seem mainly controlled by electrostatic interactions, as a function of the protonation/charge status of the polymer matrix. By contrast, data positively point out a lesser importance assumed by the induced-fit effect, important in affecting the formation of host–guest…
Achieving Strong Positive Cooperativity through Activating Weak Non-Covalent Interactions
2018
Positive cooperativity achieved through activating weak non-covalent interactions is common in biological assemblies but is rarely observed in synthetic complexes. Two new molecular tubes have been synthesized and the syn isomer binds DABCO-based organic cations with high orientational selectivity. Surprisingly, the ternary complex with two hosts and one guest shows a high cooperativity factor (α=580), which is the highest reported for synthetic systems without involving ion-pairing interactions. The X-ray single-crystal structure revealed that the strong positive cooperativity likely originates from eight C-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds between the two head-to-head-arranged syn tube molecules. Thes…
Supramolecular complexes formed by dimethoxypillar[5]arenes and imidazolium salts: A joint experimental and computational investigation
2017
To gain more insights into the factors acting on the stability of complexes formed by pillar[5]arenes, we investigated the interaction of dimethoxypillar[5]arene with some 1-(n-alkyl)-3-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-imidazolium based organic salts. In particular, we used salts differing in not only the anion nature ([Cl−], [BF4−], [NTf2−] and [SbF6−]) and alkyl chain length (butyl, octyl and dodecylimidazolium derivatives), but also the presence of a hydrogenated or fluorinated tail (octyl and perfluorooctylimidazolium derivatives). Host–guest systems were analysed in solution, solid state and gas phase, using a combined approach of different techniques like fluorescence, 1H NMR, ESI-MS, DSC and DF…
A robust nanoporous supramolecular metal–organic framework based on ionic hydrogen bonds
2014
International audience; Hydrogen-bond assembly of tripod-like organic cations [H3-MeTrip]3+ (1,2,3-tri(4′-pyridinium-oxyl)-2-methylpropane) and the hexa-anionic complex [Zr2(oxalate)7]6− leads to a structurally, thermally, and chemically robust porous 3D supramolecular framework showing channels of 1 nm in width. Permanent porosity has been ascertained by analyzing the material at the single-crystal level during a sorption cycle. The framework crystal structure was found to remain the same for the native compound, its activated phase, and after guest resorption. The channels exhibit affinities for polar organic molecules ranging from simple alcohols to aniline. Halogenated molecules and I2 …