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Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
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Supramolecular self-assemblies for bacterial cell agglutination driven by directional charge-transfer interactions
Dan Wu1, Jie Shen, Hongzhen Bai
1Institute of Chemical Biology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China. 21106180@zju.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|March 6, 2018
Summary
Two novel supramolecular amphiphiles self-assemble into nanostructures. These nanostructures act as a cell glue, effectively agglutinating Escherichia coli (E. coli) through multivalent interactions.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Materials science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Supramolecular amphiphiles offer tunable self-assembly properties.
- Charge-transfer interactions are key to directing molecular assembly.
- Targeting bacterial aggregation is crucial for antimicrobial strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate novel supramolecular amphiphiles.
- To investigate their self-assembly into nanostructures.
- To evaluate their potential as a cell glue for bacterial agglutination.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of supramolecular amphiphiles via charge-transfer interactions.
- Characterization of self-assembled nanofibers and nanoribbons.
- Assessment of bacterial agglutination activity against E. coli.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of two supramolecular amphiphiles.
- Formation of well-defined nanofibers and nanoribbons.
- Demonstrated cell glue activity, leading to E. coli agglutination.
- Evidence of multivalent interactions driving the agglutination process.
Conclusions:
- Directional charge-transfer interactions enable the formation of functional nanostructures.
- The galactose-functionalized self-assemblies show promise as a novel strategy for bacterial cell aggregation.
- This approach offers a new avenue for developing targeted antimicrobial agents.
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