荷兰拉德堡德大学Wilson, Daniela A.团队报道了疏水锚自适应插入到聚(乙二醇)主体编程表面功能化。相关研究成果发表在2022年11月21日出版的《自然—化学》。

共价和非共价分子结合是调整表面性质和功能的两种策略。然而，缺乏响应性和对特定结合基团的需求使得时空控制具有挑战性。

该文中，研究人员报道了疏水锚的自适应插入到聚乙二醇（PEG）宿主中作为表面功能化的非共价结合策略。通过使用多环芳烃作为疏水锚，在没有任何催化剂和结合基团的帮助下，亲水性带电和非带电功能模块在2min内自发地加载到PEG电晕上。疏水性锚固件的热力学有利插入可以通过拉动功能模块来逆转，从而实现可编程的表面功能化。研究认为疏水锚和PEG宿主之间的适应性分子识别将增强对PEG的亲水性理解，并促进纳米医学、先进材料和纳米技术的进展。

附：英文原文

Title: Adaptive insertion of a hydrophobic anchor into a poly(ethylene glycol) host for programmable surface functionalization

Author: Zhang, Shaohua, Li, Wei, Luan, Jiabin, Srivastava, Abhinav, Carnevale, Vincenzo, Klein, Michael L., Sun, Jiawei, Wang, Danni, Teora, Serena P., Rijpkema, Sjoerd J., Meeldijk, Johannes D., Wilson, Daniela A.

Issue&Volume: 2022-11-21

Abstract: Covalent and non-covalent molecular binding are two strategies to tailor surface properties and functions. However, the lack of responsiveness and requirement for specific binding groups makes spatiotemporal control challenging. Here, we report the adaptive insertion of a hydrophobic anchor into a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) host as a non-covalent binding strategy for surface functionalization. By using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as the hydrophobic anchor, hydrophilic charged and non-charged functional modules were spontaneously loaded onto PEG corona in 2min without the assistance of any catalysts and binding groups. The thermodynamically favourable insertion of the hydrophobic anchor can be reversed by pulling the functional module, enabling programmable surface functionalization. We anticipate that the adaptive molecular recognition between the hydrophobic anchor and the PEG host will challenge the hydrophilic understanding of PEG and enhance the progress in nanomedicine, advanced materials and nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01090-0

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-022-01090-0