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

Yong Hou1, Linjun Zou1, Qinglong Li1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of New Drug Discovery Based on Classic Chinese Medicine Prescription, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.

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Summary

Natural small molecules (NSMs) form supramolecular structures through self-assembly, offering advantages over synthetic compounds. This review explores their mechanisms and potential applications, including in traditional Chinese medicines.

Keywords:
Co-assemblyNatural small molecules (NSMs)Self-assemblySupramolecular assembliesTraditional Chinese medicines (TCMs)

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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.