Molecular Behavior in Small Spaces

该奖项授予斯克里普斯研究所的Rebek博士，由大分子，超分子和纳米化学计划资助，旨在利用分子在密闭空间中的不寻常行为来执行一些理想的任务。密闭空间是可逆形成的胶囊，任务包括控制，加速甚至催化空间内的反应。具有手性空间的胶囊将在不对称合成和分离科学中得到应用。通过层层自组装，附着在表面上的胶囊将在纳米尺度上“写入”信息。聚合物胶囊将作为“智能”材料进行制备、表征和评估。这些材料通过膨胀和收缩来响应环境中信号的变化。所有药物中的大多数是合成的小分子，通过适应人体蛋白质的小空间来发挥其有益作用。该提案旨在研究分子在合成容器内的小空间中的行为。容器的大小、形状和化学表面由实验室合成控制，实验室合成旨在操纵容器和所含分子以执行任务。这些任务包括像肌肉运动一样的可逆膨胀，像纳米计算机一样存储信息，以及像实验室烧瓶一样充当反应室。学生和博士后研究员将接受如何进行研究的培训;这些研究人员可能会转移到附近的生物技术和高科技产业。该项目吸引了圣地亚哥地区的高中教师和学生。校园里的斯克里普斯外展计划将管理这些暑期实习。

This award to Dr. Rebek of the Scripps Research Institute is funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program and is directed at harnessing the unusual behavior of molecules in confined spaces to perform a number of desirable tasks. The confined spaces are the reversibly formed capsules and the tasks comprise the control, acceleration and even catalysis of reactions inside the space. Capsules with chiral spaces will be applied in asymmetric synthesis and separation science. Capsules attached to surfaces built up through layer-by-layer self-assembly will "write" information on the nanoscale. Polymeric capsules will be prepared, characterized and evaluated as "smart" materials. These materials respond by expansion and contraction to changes in signals in the environment. The majority of all medicines are synthetic small molecules that exert their beneficial effects by fitting into the small spaces of human proteins. This proposal intends to research the behavior of molecules in the small spaces inside synthetic containers. The size, shape and chemical surface of the containers are controlled by laboratory synthesis designed to manipulate the container and contained molecules to perform tasks. The tasks include reversible expansion like muscle movement, storing information like nanoscale computers and acting as reaction chambers as a laboratory flask. Students and postdoctoral fellows will be trained on how to perform research; these researchers are likely to move on to the nearby biotech and hightech industries. This project attracts high school teachers and students in the San Diego area. The Scripps outreach program on campus will manage these summer internships.