New Trends In Macromolecular And Supramolecular Chemistry For Biological Applications

This contributed volume applies the insights of supramolecular chemistry to biomedical applications such as ions/water transport through nano-scale channels, gene therapy, tissue engineering and drug delivery, to cite some of the major investigations.The challenge is to understand the mechanisms of transport through tissues particularly in the therapeutic treatment of a disease where the active drug must be delivered directly to diseased cells without affecting healthy cells. As a result, smaller quantities of active substances can be used to treat the disease. Another interest concerns new ways to administer gene therapy. If genes are often delivered to their target cells by adapted viruses, the supramolecular non-viral ‘vectors’ using dynamic nano-frameworks and nano-structures are presented. In addition, it is important to reconstruct damaged tissues by mimicking natural processes in cells and polymers, such as tissue engineering and self-healing. Different options are here discussed: e.g. hydrogels based on chitosan, a carbohydrate polymer, are proving especially promising for tissue engineering and drug delivery. For controlled delivery of drugs or other biologically active compounds, hydrogels sensitive to the most important stimuli in the human body, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, glucose and biomolecules released by the organism in pathological conditions have been developed. Finally, to assist and validate the experimental studies, computer modelling and simulations of large-sized molecular structures and systems using different molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical techniques are developed based on the experimental and chemistry synthesis. This book is of great interest for graduate students, researchers and health professionals interested in acquiring a better understanding of the mechanisms of medical treatments. In addition, it provides numerous tools to develop better therapies for human diseases.

Supramolecular chemistry is the outburst topic of the next generation of science. While the majority of biomedical research efforts to date have centered on utilizing well-known polymeric materials, the recent progress in supramolecular chemistry has introduced a fascinating new field of macromolecular architecture. Supramolecular Design for Biological Applications focuses on modulating, altering, and mimicking biological functions with a new family of molecular assemblies. The authors provide innovative ideas and concepts for developing novel biomaterials that could be applied in diagnosis, drug carrier operations, and environmental protection. This reference is comprehensive, presenting principles, applications, recent advances, and future directions. Each chapter includes clear and informative illustrations of molecular architectures. The writing is scientific but allows for easy comprehension of the differences in molecular interactions, dimensions, and supramolecular architecture. Supramolecular Design for Biological Applications will advance the understanding of supramolecular-structured biomaterials and associated issues regarding biological functions. By explaining recent trends and molecular interactions, this book will enable you to initiate new research for nano-scale science and technology in the 21st century.

Supramolecular chemistry is ‘chemistry beyond the molecule’ - the chemistry of molecular assemblies and intermolecular bonds. It is one of today’s fastest growing disciplines, crossing a range of subjects from biological chemistry to materials science; and from synthesis to spectroscopy. Supramolecular Chemistry is an up-to-date, integrated textbook that tells the newcomer to the field everything they need to know to get started. Assuming little in the way of prior knowledge, the book covers the concepts behind the subject, its breadth, applications and the latest contemporary thinking in the area. It also includes coverage of the more important experimental and instrumental techniques needed by supramolecular chemists. The book has been thoroughly updated for this second edition. In addition to the strengths of the very popular first edition, this comprehensive new version expands coverage into a broad range of emerging areas. Clear explanations of both fundamental and nascent concepts are supplemented by up-to-date coverage of exciting emerging trends in the literature. Numerous examples and problems are included throughout the book. A system of “key references” allows rapid access to the secondary literature, and of course comprehensive primary literature citations are provided. A selection of the topics covered is listed below. Cation, anion, ion-pair and molecular host-guest chemistry Crystal engineering Topological entanglement Clathrates Self-assembly Molecular devices Dendrimers Supramolecular polymers Microfabrication Nanoparticles Chemical emergence Metal-organic frameworks Gels Ionic liquids Supramolecular catalysis Molecular electronics Polymorphism Gas sorption Anion-pinteractions Nanochemistry Supramolecular Chemistry is a must for both students new to the field and for experienced researchers wanting to explore the origins and wider context of their work. Review: "At just under 1000 pages, the second edition of Steed and Atwood's Supramolecular Chemistry is the most comprehensive overview of the area available in textbook form...highly recommended." —Chemistry World, August 2009

This first volume in the new Springer Series on Fluorescence brings together fundamental and applied research from this highly interdisciplinary and field, ranging from chemistry and physics to biology and medicine. Special attention is given to supramolecular systems, sensor applications, confocal microscopy and protein-protein interactions. This carefully edited collection of articles is an invaluable tool for practitioners and novices.

Cucurbiturils (CBs) are a young family of molecular containers, able to form stable complexes with various guests, including drug molecules, amino acids and peptides, saccharides, dyes, hydrocarbons, perfluorinated hydrocarbons, and proteins. Since the discovery of the first CB, the field has seen tremendous growth with respect to the synthesis of new homologues and derivatives, the discovery of record binding affinities of guest molecules in their hydrophobic cavity, and associated applications ranging from sensing to drug delivery. Cucurbiturils and Related Macrocycles provides a complete overview of CB chemistry, covering the fundamental aspects including its history, synthesis, host–guest chemistry and the thermodynamic basis thereof. The book will tackle specialist topics such as redox chemistry of CB complexes and CBs in the gas phase, and will address the recent trends of the application of CBs in other fields including biology and materials. Edited by a pioneer of cucurbituril chemistry, and with contributions from global experts, this title will appeal to students and researchers working in supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, nanotechnology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and chemical biology.

This book investigates the latest developments in supramolecular assembly systems for mimicking biological structures and functions. Consisting of 14 chapters, it covers various assembly systems, such as polysaccharides, peptides, proteins, biopolymers, natural materials and various hybrid systems. Further, it focuses on different types of supramolecular systems with particular functions or structures that are relevant to living systems. A number of modern techniques used to study the supramolecular systems, such as total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) and two-photon confocal microscopy, are also introduced in detail. Unlike conventional books on supramolecular assemblies, this book highlights the functions of the assembly systems, particularly their biological applications. As such, it offers a valuable resource for experienced researchers, as well as graduate students working in the field of supramolecular chemistry and biomimetic systems.

Non-covalent interactions, which are the heart of supramolecular chemistry are also the basis of most important functions of living systems. The ability to apply supramolecular chemistry principles to the life sciences, such as designing synthetic host compounds to selectively interact within biological targets, has gained wide appeal due the vast number of potential applications. Supramolecular Systems for Biomedical Fields provides in sixteen chapters a comprehensive overview of these applications. Each chapter covers a specific topic and is written by internationally renowned experts in that area. Sensing of bioactive inorganic ions and organic substrates is the focus of several contributions, as well as interactions with proteins and nucleic acids. Specific chapters are devoted to cyclodextrins, calixarenes and cucurbiturils as most frequently used receptors, including applications such as drug delivery and protection, gene transfer and others. Other chapters address the use of combinatorial libraries, molecular imprinting techniques, enzyme assays, supramolecular gels, bioimaging, drug activation, photodynamic therapy, and antitumour metal complexes. This timely publication will appeal to graduate students and researchers from chemical, pharmaceutical, biological, and medicinal fields interested in the supramolecular chemistry of biological systems and their practical potentials.

This volume documents the progress made in the design of complex artificial systems and in the study of intermolecular forces and interactions. It is possible, using appropriate strategies based on building blocks, to obtain very large supramolecular arrays containing several hundered atoms, where specific sites are occupied by the desired chemical functions. Such arrays can be used for such things as molecular recognition, self-organization, self-replication, selective reactivity, selective catalysis, photoinduced energy and electron transfer, signal processing, information storage and drug delivery.