Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

An operational supramolecular nanovalve.

Raquel Hernandez¹, Hsian-Rong Tseng, Jason W Wong

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|March 18, 2004

Summary

Researchers developed a supramolecular nanovalve, a molecular machine that controls the release of molecules from nanopores on demand. This nanovalve opens and closes pore orifices, enabling precise control over molecular release for advanced applications.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nano-vectors for CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing.

Nano today·2026

Same author

Bioorthogonal Click Chemistry-Enabled Enrichment of Extracellular Vesicles for Integrated Molecular and Functional Liquid Biopsy§.

Accounts of chemical research·2026

Same author

Toward the simultaneous detection of multiple diseases with a highly cost-effective cell-free DNA methylome test.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Noninvasive Assessment of Protease Activity in Osteosarcoma via Click Chemistry-Mediated Enrichment of Extracellular Vesicles.

Advanced functional materials·2026

Same author

Dynamic Targetable Extracellular Vesicle Surface Proteins Monitor Depth of Response to CAR T Therapy.

Research square·2026

Same author

Reducing demographic bias in biomedical machine learning for cancer detection using cfDNA methylation.

Genome biology·2026

Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Nanotechnology
Materials Science

Background:

Development of molecular machines is crucial for advanced nanotechnology.
Controlling molecular transport through nanopores requires precise mechanisms.
Supramolecular chemistry offers tools for designing responsive nanostructures.

Purpose of the Study:

To report a functioning nanomachine in the form of a supramolecular nanovalve.
To demonstrate controlled opening and closing of molecular-sized pores.
To achieve on-demand release of molecules from a nanocontainer.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of a nanocontainer using mesoporous silica via dip-coating.
Construction of a pseudorotaxane-based nanovalve using a 1,5-dioxnaphthalene donor and cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) acceptor.

More Related Videos

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

Published on: January 19, 2018

Determining the Mechanical Strength of Ultra-Fine-Grained Metals

Determining the Mechanical Strength of Ultra-Fine-Grained Metals

Published on: November 22, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics

Published on: January 19, 2018

Determining the Mechanical Strength of Ultra-Fine-Grained Metals

Determining the Mechanical Strength of Ultra-Fine-Grained Metals

Published on: November 22, 2021

Loading of luminescent Ir(ppy)3 molecules into nanopores.

On-demand release triggered by an external reducing reagent (NaCNBH3).

Main Results:

A functional supramolecular nanovalve capable of opening and closing nanopore orifices was successfully created.
The nanovalve demonstrated controlled release of encapsulated molecules.
The system operates through pseudorotaxane formation and dethreading for precise molecular delivery.

Conclusions:

The developed nanovalve represents a significant advancement in supramolecular machines.
This technology enables precise control over molecular release from nanocontainers.
The nanovalve is a solid framework with moving parts capable of performing useful work.