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Cover Picture: Nanovalves (Adv. Funct. Mater. 5/2007)
Author(s) -
Saha S.,
Leung K. C.F.,
Nguyen T. D.,
Stoddart J. F.,
Zink J. I.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200790017
Subject(s) - supramolecular chemistry , mesoporous silica , nanopore , nanotechnology , materials science , rotaxane , molecule , viologen , molecular switch , molecular machine , mesoporous material , chemistry , photochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis
Abstract Interlocked molecular and supramolecular actuators based on rotaxanes can act as gatekeepers at the entrances to nanopores in silica. Guest dye molecules can then be uploaded and released on demand. These molecular actuators, or nanovalves, reported on p. 685 by Fraser Stoddart, Jeffrey Zink, and co‐workers, can be operated by using a wide range of stimuli, and can be regarded as prototypes for highly controllable drug‐delivery systems. This article features both molecular and supramolecular chemistry involving: i) stimuli‐induced nanoscale movements within mechanically interlocked molecules; ii) the fabrication of mesoporous silica substrates; and iii) the integration of the mechanically interlocked molecular/supramolecular actuators to act as gatekeepers at the entrances to the silica nanopores into which guest dye molecules can be uploaded and released on demand from the mesoporous silica substrates. The supramolecular actuators are based on two [2]pseudorotaxanes—that is, 1:1 complexes that can be dissociated by external inputs, such as acid/base cycles, electrons, and light. The molecular actuators are based on bistable [2]rotaxanes and can be operated mechanically by using either redox chemistry or electrochemistry. After these pseudorotaxanes and bistable rotaxanes have been attached covalently to the orifices of the silica nanopores, stimuli‐controlled mechanical movements within these mechanically interlocked molecules can be harnessed to close and open the nanopores. Therefore, these mechanically interlocked molecules have been employed as nanovalves for controlled sequestering and release of guest dye molecules into and out of the mesoporous silica substrates. These actuators can be regarded as the prototypes of highly controllable drug‐delivery systems.