Using Light to Control Molecules and Materials

利用光控制分子和材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-03142
• 负责人: Branda, Neil
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=747796
• 关键词: Using; Light; Control; Molecules; Materials

The proposed research program presents how `designer' molecules can be reversibly modulated with light to be used as detectors for environmental toxins, genes, and other important analytes, probes to monitor the progress of chemical reactions, drug-delivery vehicles, and agents to modify the structural integrity of biomedical devices. Our goal is to control the structure of small molecules, influencing how they behave and interact with their environment. This will be achieved by utilizing `molecular switches' - molecules that respond to different colours of light by reversibly changing their structures in a predictable manner. Traditionally, the emphasis in molecular photoswitching has been on how they absorb light, how they emit light, and how they bend light to advance optoelectronic materials and devices. A much less developed application for molecular photoswitches is how they can conveniently and visually provide information about the presence and the amount of an analyte of interest, how they can inform the user when chemical reactions are complete, and how they can trigger the breakdown of materials whenever the user desires. By utilizing a relatively simple molecule that can undergo a reversible reaction when exposed to two different colours of light and toggle between two unique shapes, we can access many unique properties for a wide range of applications. Since the shape of a molecule dictates how it reacts or interacts with others, the systems developed in this research program will be used to provide information about changes in the environment around them and to change the environment itself. Many of the projects in this program have a common theme - a spontaneous process must first occur before the molecular architecture can change its structure in the presence of light. We call this `chemically-gated' photochemistry and show many ways it can be applied to solve real-world problems such as revealing the presence of a toxic compound that leaks out of our tires, which has recently been shown to pollute waterways and kill resident fish. Another example targets oligonucleotides (DNA and RNA) with the potential to conveniently indicate the presence of specific genes. Similar molecular backbones can also be used to track how close chemical reactions are from being complete, which would simplify the analysis needed in routine synthetic processes. Finally, light will be used to release highly reactive pharmacological species from inactive forms `on-command', and release compounds from their 'delivery vehicles'. The broad real-world applications of this program will place Canadian research at the forefront for solving some of the most pressing health and environmental challenges facing today's society, while training the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

拟议的研究计划提出了如何“设计师”分子可以可逆地调制与光被用作检测器环境毒素，基因和其他重要的分析物，探针，以监测化学反应的进展，药物输送车辆，和代理修改生物医学设备的结构完整性。我们的目标是控制小分子的结构，影响它们的行为以及与环境的相互作用。这将通过利用“分子开关”来实现--分子通过以可预测的方式可逆地改变其结构来响应不同颜色的光。传统上，分子光开关的重点是它们如何吸收光，如何发光，以及它们如何弯曲光以改进光电材料和器件。分子光开关的一个开发得少得多的应用是它们如何能够方便地和视觉地提供关于感兴趣的分析物的存在和量的信息，它们如何能够在化学反应完成时通知用户，以及它们如何能够在用户期望时触发材料的分解。通过利用一个相对简单的分子，当暴露在两种不同颜色的光下时可以发生可逆反应，并在两种独特的形状之间切换，我们可以获得许多独特的特性，用于广泛的应用。由于分子的形状决定了它如何与其他分子反应或相互作用，因此该研究计划中开发的系统将用于提供有关周围环境变化的信息，并改变环境本身。该计划中的许多项目都有一个共同的主题-在分子结构可以在光的存在下改变其结构之前，必须首先发生自发过程。我们称之为“化学门控”光化学，并展示了它可以应用于解决现实世界问题的许多方法，例如揭示从我们的轮胎中泄漏的有毒化合物的存在，最近已被证明污染水道并杀死居民鱼类。另一个例子靶向寡核苷酸（DNA和RNA），具有方便地指示特定基因存在的潜力。类似的分子骨架也可以用来追踪化学反应离完成有多近，这将简化常规合成过程中所需的分析。最后，光将被用于从非活性形式“按需”释放高度反应性的药理物质，并从其“递送载体”释放化合物。该计划的广泛现实应用将使加拿大的研究处于解决当今社会面临的一些最紧迫的健康和环境挑战的最前沿，同时培养下一代创新者和企业家。