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Controlling Complex Stability in Photoresponsive Macromolecular Host–Guest Systems: Toward Reversible Capture of DNA by Cyclodextrin Vesicles
Author(s) -
Moratz Johanna,
Stricker Lucas,
Engel Sabrina,
Ravoo Bart Jan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201700256
Subject(s) - azobenzene , vesicle , photoisomerization , supramolecular chemistry , amphiphile , cyclodextrin , macromolecule , biomolecule , chemistry , dna , linker , molecule , self assembly , biophysics , nanotechnology , combinatorial chemistry , materials science , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , membrane , biochemistry , isomerization , computer science , biology , operating system , catalysis
An effective and universal method for delivering structurally diverse biomolecules in vivo would greatly benefit modern drug therapy, but has yet to be discovered. Self‐assembled supramolecular complexes containing vesicles of amphiphilic cyclodextrin and linker molecules with an azobenzene guest unit and a charged functionality have been established as nanoscale carriers for proteins and DNA, making use of multivalent electrostatic attraction. However, light‐induced cargo release is only feasible up to a maximum net charge of the biomacromolecules. Herein, it is shown that it is possible to fine‐tune macromolecular complex stability and size by addition of a competitive guest molecule that acts as a stopper, partly blocking the vesicle surface. The superior performance of arylazopyrazoles in photoisomerization compared to azobenzenes, which enables a lower surface charge density of the vesicles in the photostationary state, is also demonstrated. Both strategies allow reversible supramolecular aggregation of high molecular weight DNA (2 and 4.8 kbp).