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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Supramolecular chemistry in water
Gennady V Oshovsky1, David N Reinhoudt, Willem Verboom
1Laboratory of Supramolecular Chemistry and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
This review explores advances in supramolecular chemistry in water, focusing on water-soluble synthetic receptors and self-assembly for molecular recognition. It details strategies for enhancing solubility and effective guest recognition in aqueous environments.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Aqueous Systems Chemistry
Background:
- Noncovalent interactions in water are crucial for understanding natural processes.
- Supramolecular chemistry in water is a rapidly expanding field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in water-soluble synthetic receptors.
- To overview self-assembly and molecular recognition in aqueous media.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of functionalities enhancing water solubility.
- Examination of supramolecular interactions for recognition and self-assembly.
- Discussion of approaches for effective guest recognition in water.
Main Results:
- Recent progress in designing water-soluble synthetic receptors.
- Effective strategies for self-assembly and molecular recognition in water.
- Insights into the features and applications of supramolecular entities in aqueous media.
Conclusions:
- Water-soluble supramolecular chemistry offers powerful tools for controlling molecular processes.
- Advances enable better understanding and application of molecular recognition and self-assembly in water.
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