Supramolecular Activated Photothermolysis

化学系的高分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)项目支持圣母大学的布拉德利·史密斯教授准备和研究一系列可以吸收相对无害的激光并产生局部加热的染料和有组织的分子组件。这一过程被称为光热分解，可以结合到一系列现代研究方法和前沿技术中，如先进材料、医疗保健和生物技术。该项目开发了在非常小的区域内或在特定环境条件下生产光热分解的新方法。研究活动培训学生，包括来自历史上代表性不足的群体的学生，涉及合成化学、定量光物理测量、膜科学以及向专家和非专家受众展示科学结果的多媒体演示。史密斯教授和他的学生还在制作一本描述生物分子最有效的合成受体的电子书。电子书的专业和全球发行确保它有效地接触到科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的学生。这本电子书预计将教育广泛的STEM学生，他们是超分子化学的新手，从而产生全球教育影响。研究计划建立在初步结果的基础上，表明一类新的近红外吸收染料非常适合许多激光光热分解应用。这项工作研究了纳米级光热分解作为一种新的方法来产生高度局域化的双层膜破坏事件，而不会导致样品的整体加热。另一个主要主题是广泛适用的激活光热分解超分子设计概念。含有染料的组件是在生色团状态下制造的，在中性pH下不吸收近红外激光。改变到酸性pH会触发假轮烷的形成，这是一种超分子络合事件，极大地增强了激光吸收和光热加热。激活光热分解的一般概念可以扩展到包括各种化学和生化反应，以开启有机染料对激光的吸收。

The Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program in the Chemistry Division supports Professor Bradley Smith of the University of Notre Dame to prepare and study a series of dyes and organized molecular assemblies that can absorb relatively harmless laser light and generate localized heating. The process is known as photothermolysis and can be incorporated into a wide range of modern research methods and frontier technologies such as advanced materials, healthcare, and biotechnology. The project develops new methods of producing photothermolysis over a very small area, or under specific environmental conditions. The research activities train students, including those from historically underrepresented groups, in synthetic chemistry, quantitative photophysical measurements, membrane science, and multimedia presentation of scientific results to expert and non-expert audiences. Professor Smith and his students are also producing an electronic book (ebook) describing the most effective synthetic receptors for biological molecules. Professional and global distribution of the ebook ensures that it effectively reaches Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students. The ebook is expected to educate a wide range of STEM students who are new to supramolecular chemistry and thus have a global educational impact.The research plan builds on preliminary results showing that a new class of near-infrared absorbing dyes is extremely well-suited for many laser photothermolysis applications. The work investigates nanoscale photothermolysis as a new way of producing highly localized bilayer membrane disruption events without causing bulk heating of the sample. Another major theme is the broadly applicable supramolecular design concept of activated photothermolysis. Dye-containing assemblies are fabricated in a chromophore state that does not absorb near-infrared laser light at neutral pH. Changing to acidic pH triggers pseudorotaxane formation, a supramolecular complexation event that greatly enhances laser absorption and photothermal heating. The general concept of activated photothermolysis can likely be expanded to include various chemical and biochemical reactions to switch on laser absorption by organic dyes.