Bio-Inspired Synthesis and Assembly of Nanocrystals

描述（由申请人提供）：生物启发的方法将用于设计多价表面活性剂，其基于分子识别，将控制纳米晶体的形态、尺寸分布和有序组装。一个双重的战略将被用来形成组件，在生物成像和控制药物输送的应用。特定晶体形态的自下而上的生长将使用被设计为识别并附着到特定晶体面的分子来完成。一系列的添加剂的系统评价将产生一个更好的机械理解的分子识别事件在晶体表面，导致纳米晶体的形态控制。相同的分子将用于通过连接到所选表面的官能团的超分子组装来指导一维、二维和/或三维有序阵列的形成。这种控制微球形态和组装的方法解决了该领域中的许多现有挑战。例如，将功能性靶向特定面的能力将允许合成可以靶向特定组织以及递送药物的双功能纳米晶体。合成还将提供一种用设计成促进非紧密堆积几何结构中的聚集的分子构建块来特异性官能化对称相关面的手段。然后，这些聚集体可用于药物的控制释放。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A bio-inspired approach will be used to design multi-valent surfactants which, based upon molecular recognition, will control the morphology, size distribution and ordered assembly of nanocrystals. A two-fold strategy will be used to form assemblies that have applications in biological imaging and controlled drug delivery. The bottom-up growth of specific crystalline morphologies will be accomplished using molecules designed to both recognize and attach to specific crystallographic faces. The systematic evaluation of a series of additives will produce a better mechanistic understanding of the molecular recognition events at the crystalline surface that lead to morphological control of nanocrystals. The same molecules will be used to direct the formation of ordered arrays in one-, two- and/or three-dimensions via supramolecular assembly of the functionality attached to selected faces. This approach to controlling nanocrystal morphology and assembly addresses many of the existing challenges in this field. For example, the ability to target functionality to specific faces will allow the synthesis of bifunctional nanocrystals that can be targeted to specific tissues as well as deliver a drug. Synthesis will also provide a means of specifically functionalizing symmetry related faces with molecular building blocks designed to promote aggregation in non-close-packed geometries. These aggregates can then be used for the controlled release of drugs.