Self-assemblies of nucleolipid supramolecular synthons show unique self-sorting and cooperative assembling process

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Biological systems exhibit complex self-sorting and co-assembly, difficult to replicate synthetically.
• Synthetic supramolecular chemistry aims to mimic these natural processes for advanced materials.
• Nucleic acids and lipids are fundamental biological components offering potential for self-assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple platform for hierarchical assembly of two-component systems.
• To investigate the self-sorting and co-assembling behavior of nucleolipids.
• To create advanced materials with enhanced mechanical properties through controlled assembly.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of amphiphilic purine and pyrimidine ribonucleoside-fatty acid conjugates (nucleolipids).
• Morphological analysis, including single crystal X-ray crystallography and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).
• Spectroscopic (NMR, CD) and rheological studies, alongside 3D X-ray microtomography.

Main Results:

• Nucleolipids self-assemble into distinct morphologies, influencing gelation.
• Cooperative and disruptive self-sorting behaviors observed based on assembly dynamics.
• Hierarchical assemblies and gels with significantly enhanced mechanical strength were constructed.

Conclusions:

• The nucleolipid platform successfully mimics biological self-sorting and co-assembly.
• Controlled hierarchical architectures and robust gels can be achieved.
• This approach provides a pathway for designing advanced supramolecular materials.