Supramolecular Chemistry of Pyrogallolarene Channels, Nanotubes, and Receptors

这一研究计划建立在基本发现的基础上，即大环焦性没食子酸酯[4]芳烃插入双层膜并形成功能通道，其性质可以通过改变膜的性质来改变。它们将被用作离子和分子受体和递送系统，并作为膜组成和性质变化的报告。当侧链是分支的，而不是线性的，就形成了物理上互锁的六面纳米管。将开展工作，以确定它们的化学稳定性，它们运输离子和分子的能力，它们作为“纳米容器”的潜力，甚至在其他结构中形成物理隧道。这些纳米孔和纳米管形成器将在开发新材料和生物应用中发挥作用。这些研究将为学生提供合成化学方面的经验，以及一系列分析方法，如平面双层电导、X射线结晶学、电子显微镜、朗缪尔槽和布鲁斯特角显微镜。综上所述，该计划将产生具有新性质和实际应用的新结构，并教育学生了解超分子相互作用，并在纳米科学中提供有价值的实际应用。在大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划的支持下，密苏里大学圣路易斯分校化学和生物化学系和纳米科学中心的乔治·戈克尔教授正在制备具有显著化学-和潜在生物-性质的新型化合物。这些化合物被称为吡咯芳烃，呈甜甜圈状，并有从它们放射出来的“手臂”。根据手臂的长度和形状，这些化合物形成分子胶囊或“纳米管”，并显示出一系列显著的性质。这些化合物中的一些插入围绕细胞并在膜内形成孔或通道的双层膜中。纳米管是一种以前未知的类型，将被用作传输离子和化学物质的“管道”，就像金属线传输电子一样。这些特性的结合为开发极小的传感设备和将单个化合物用作抗生素或其他医药应用提供了可能性。该项目对招募学生进行跨学科研究将是有价值的，因为它涉及化学和生物物理学以及广泛的分析技术。学生们将为美国工业目前正在进行的一系列项目做好准备。该项目的个别组成部分可以由本科生甚至高中生在适当的监督下进行。该项目将对社会产生重要影响，因为这些结构的变化可能导致药物输送系统或药物本身。

This research program builds on fundamental discoveries that macrocyclic pyrogallol[4]arenes insert into bilayer membranes and form functional channels, the properties of which can be varied by altering membrane properties. These will be exploited as ion and molecule receptors and delivery systems and as reporters of changes in membrane composition and properties. When the sidechains are branched, rather than linear, hexameric nanotubes are formed that are physically interlocked. Work will be undertaken to determine their chemical stability, their ability to transport ions and molecules, their potential to function as "nano-containers," and even to form physical tunnels within other structures. These nanopore and nanotube formers will be useful in developing new materials and in biological applications. These studies will provide students with experience in synthetic chemistry, and a range of analytical methods such as planar bilayer conductance, X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, Langmuir trough, and Brewster angle microscopy. Taken together, the program will produce novel structures with novel properties and practical applications and educate students to understand supramolecular interactions and offer valuable practical applications in nanoscience.With the support of this award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program, Professor George Gokel, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Center for Nanoscience at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, is preparing novel chemical compounds that have remarkable chemical -- and potentially biological -- properties. These compounds, called pyrogallolarenes, are doughnut shaped and have "arms" radiating from them. Depending on the length and shape of the arms, the compounds form molecular capsules or "nanotubes" and exhibit a range of remarkable properties. Some of these compounds insert into bilayer membranes of the type that surround cells and form pores or channels within the membranes. The nanotubes are of a previously unknown type and will be used as "pipes" to transport ions and chemicals much as metal wires transport electrons. The combination of these properties opens the possibility of developing extremely small sensing devices and exploiting the individual compounds as antibiotics or in other pharmaceutical applications. The project will be valuable to recruit students to cross-disciplinary studies because it involves both chemistry and biophysics and a broad range of analytical techniques. Students will be prepared for the range of programs currently underway in American industry. Individual components of the program can be undertaken by undergraduate students or even high school students with appropriate supervision. This project will have an important impact to society because variations on these structures can lead to drug delivery systems or to drugs themselves.