Ultrahigh-Affinity Molecular Recognition in Water and Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Biomedical Materials Science

Background:

• Aqueous-phase molecular recognition pairs with ultrahigh binding affinity are vital for biotechnology and chemical applications.
• Rational design of synthetic pairs with exceptional binding strength has been a significant challenge, with recent progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• Define "ultrahigh-affinity" in aqueous-phase molecular recognition.
• Provide an overview of advancements in ultrahigh-affinity receptors and their design principles.
• Highlight applications in biomedical materials and future directions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of existing data on aqueous-phase molecular recognition by water-soluble macrocyclic hosts.
• Review of recent advancements in various classes of ultrahigh-affinity receptors.
• Extraction of key design principles from successful receptor systems.

Main Results:

• Established a clear definition of "ultrahigh-affinity" based on comprehensive data analysis.
• Identified key design strategies enabling exceptional binding strength in synthetic receptors.
• Showcased diverse applications in bioorthogonal chemistry, biosensing, bioimaging, drug delivery, and toxin sequestration.

Conclusions:

• Ultrahigh-affinity molecular recognition holds transformative potential for addressing biomedical challenges.
• Integration of supramolecular chemistry and biomedical materials is key for future innovation.
• Further development of diverse and functional ultrahigh-affinity recognition tools is anticipated.