Photo-Controlled Reversible Microtubule Assembly Mediated by Paclitaxel-Modified Cyclodextrin

The design and construction of multi-stimuli-responsive supramolecular nanoassemblies that can mimic and regulate the fundamental biological processes have become a focus of interest in supramolecular chemistry. In this work, a perfect combination has been achieved between naturally occurring microtubules and artificially macrocyclic receptors. The self-assembling morphology of microtubules can be photo-tuned by the host-guest interaction of paclitaxel-modified β-cyclodextrin (PTX-CD) and photochromic arylazopyrazole (PTX-AAP). Moreover, the supramolecularly aggregated microtubules in a cellular environment can induce a pronounced cell morphological change and cell death. This supramolecular approach based on the secondary PTX-AAP⊂PTX-CD complexation provides us a facile method to reversibly control the intertubular aggregation behaviors of microtubules, which may bring new perspectives in the treatment of diseases related to improper protein aggregation.