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Published on: June 16, 2022
Sol-gel interconvertible 62-component dodecahedra assembled via amide-π-assisted anion-coordination
Wen-Zheng Fu1,2,3, Zhu Zhuo1,4, Zi-Ang Nan1,4
1State Key Laboratory of Structure Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
Science Advances
|June 3, 2026
Summary
Scientists created a 62-component supramolecular cage, inspired by viruses, using anion coordination and amide-π interactions. This complex molecular nanocontainer shows stability and enables a reversible sol-gel transition.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Bioinspired Materials
Background:
- Viruses exhibit complex self-assembly of protein subunits.
- Synthetic mimicry of viral self-assembly is challenging.
- Previous supramolecular assemblies had limited component counts (max 20).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multicomponent supramolecular cage using a bioinspired strategy.
- To construct a cage with a high component count exceeding previous limits.
- To explore the assembly mechanism and properties of the novel cage.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a combination of anion coordination and amide-π interactions.
- Assembled a 62-component discrete dodecahedral cage.
- Structurally characterized the cage and its interactions (H-bonds, amide-π).
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized a 62-component supramolecular cage analogous to the dengue virus.
- Demonstrated excellent stability in solution and multiple solid polymorphs.
- Achieved a reversible sol-gel transition driven by host-guest interactions and higher-order assembly.
Conclusions:
- Established a new paradigm for constructing complex, multicomponent supramolecular cages.
- The synthetic cage serves as a bioinspired molecular nanocontainer.
- Findings provide a foundation for diverse nanotechnological applications.
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