Supramolecular assemblies based on natural small molecules: Union would be effective

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• Natural product chemistry

Background:

• Natural small molecules (NSMs) have a long history in medicine.
• Current research often focuses on NSMs at the monomolecular level.
• The supramolecular assembly of NSMs remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms of NSM supramolecular assembly.
• To highlight the advantages of NSMs in supramolecular chemistry.
• To propose a hypothesis for multi-component interactions in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based on supramolecular assembly theory.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of NSM self-assembly and co-assembly.
• Summary of non-covalent interactions driving supramolecular assembly.
• Development of a new hypothesis for TCM multi-component integration.

Main Results:

• NSMs exhibit inherent advantages like lower toxicity and better biocompatibility.
• Self-assembly and co-assembly are key techniques for creating supramolecular entities.
• Supramolecular assemblies have diverse applications in drug delivery, pollutant capture, and materials synthesis.

Conclusions:

• Understanding NSMs at the supramolecular level is crucial for advancing their applications.
• Supramolecular assembly provides a framework for interpreting complex interactions in natural products, including TCMs.
• This review bridges the gap between monomolecular and supramolecular perspectives of natural products.