Nanocapsules

通过利用超分子化学的原理，大自然已经掌握了在广泛不同的规模上形成非常复杂的分子胶囊的能力。这项研究的重点是了解在所有长度尺度上构建分子胶囊的原理。目标包括：(1)胶囊新的构建块的合成；(2)将功能工程应用于此类胶囊；(3)将长度尺度从纳米级扩展到微米级；以及(4)了解球体(胶囊)与管的结构关系。这些努力的成功将为纳米微囊在药物输送和催化方面的应用提供基础。有了这个奖项，有机和高分子化学项目支持密苏里-哥伦比亚大学的曾傑瑞·阿特伍德教授，他的研究将增加我们对更大胶囊组装原理的理解，这些原理可以为生命系统的各个方面提供洞察力。最直接的影响预计将出现在药物运送领域。如果药物可以通过具有更高位置特异性的纳米胶囊传递，即使是有效治疗所需的药物量也可能大大减少。这项研究有望在分子胶囊的选择性受体结合和药物释放方面取得重大进展。本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员将在进行本文提出的研究的同时，接受良好的教育和综合培训。这项工作将促进纳米制造、绿色化学和有机材料等相关领域的科学发展。

By exploiting the principles of supramolecular chemistry, nature has mastered the ability to form remarkably complex molecular capsules on a widely varied scale. This research is focused on understanding the principles upon which molecular capsules are constructed at all length scales. The objectives include: (1) the synthesis of new building blocks for capsules; (2) the engineering of functionality into such capsules; (3) the extension of length scales from the nano- to the micro-level; and (4) the understanding of the structural relationship of spheres (capsules) to tubes. Success in these endeavors will afford nanocpasules for applications in drug delivery and catalysis. .With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports Professor Jerry Atwood of the University of Missouri- Columbia whose research will increase our understanding of the principles governing the assembly of larger capsules that could provide insight into aspects of living systems. The most immediate impact is expected in the area of drug delivery. If drugs could be delivered by a nanocapsule with higher site specificity, even the amount of the drug needed for effective treatment may be greatly reduced. This research is expected to achieve major advances toward selective receptor binding of molecular capsules followed by drug release.Undergraduate, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers will receive excellent educational and synthetic training while pursuing the research proposed here. The work will advance science in the related areas of nanofabrication, green chemistry and organic materials.