Naslov
Condensed Supramolecular Helices: The Twisted Sisters of DNA

Autori
Du, Guanqun ; Belić, Domagoj ; Del Giudice, Alessandra ; Alfredsson, Viveka ; Carnerup, Anna M. ; Zhu, Kaizheng ; Nyström, Bo ; Wang, Yilin ; Galantini, Luciano ; Schillén, Karin

Izvornik
Angewandte Chemie. International edition (1433-7851) 61 (2021), 4; E202113279, 8

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
chirality ; condensation ; DNA-like helix superstructures ; hexagonally packed helices ; polyelectrolyte–bile salt systems

Sažetak
Condensation of DNA helices into hexagonally packed bundles and toroids represents an intriguing example of functional organization of biological macromolecules at the nanoscale. The condensation models are based on the unique polyelectrolyte features of DNA, however here we could reproduce a DNA-like condensation with supramolecular helices of small chiral molecules, thereby demonstrating that it is a more general phenomenon. We show that the bile salt sodium deoxycholate can form supramolecular helices upon interaction with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes of homopolymer or block copolymers. At higher order, a controlled hexagonal packing of the helices into DNA-like bundles and toroids could be accomplished. The results disclose unknown similarities between covalent and supramolecular non-covalent helical polyelectrolytes, which inspire visionary ideas of constructing supramolecular versions of biological macromolecules. As drug nanocarriers the polymer– bile salt superstructures would get advantage of a complex chirality at molecular and supramolecular levels, whose effect on the nanocarrier assisted drug efficiency is a still unexplored fascinating issue.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika, Kemija, Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

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