Supramolecular Structure
Supramolecular Structure - Related Videos
09:26
Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
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Cited by 3 •
2016
A protocol for the synthesis and characterization of colloids coated with supramolecular moieties is described. These supramolecular colloids undergo self-assembly upon the activation of the hydrogen-bonds between the surface-anchored molecules by UV-light.
16:24
Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
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Cited by 13 •
2012
The goal of this experiment is to determine and control the size, shape and stability of self-assembled discotic amphiphiles in water. For aqueous based supramolecular polymers such level of control is very difficult. We apply a strategy using both repulsive and attractive interactions. The experimental techniques applied to characterize this system are broadly applicable.
10:01
Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
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Cited by 4 •
2020
At the interface of organic and aqueous solvents, tailored amphiphilic elastin-like proteins assemble into complex supramolecular structures such as vesicles, fibers and coacervates triggered by environmental parameters. The described assembly protocols yield Protein Membrane-Based Compartments (PMBCs) with tunable properties, enabling the encapsulation of various cargo.
10:28
An Injectable and Drug-loaded Supramolecular Hydrogel for Local Catheter Injection into the Pig Heart
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Cited by 21 •
2015
Supramolecular hydrogelators based on ureido-pyrimidinones allow full control over the macroscopic gel properties and the sol–gel switching behavior using pH. Here, we present a protocol for formulating and injecting such a supramolecular hydrogelator via a catheter delivery system for local delivery directly in relevant areas in the pig heart.
13:52
Studying the Supramolecular Organization of Photosynthetic Membranes within Freeze-fractured Leaf Tissues by Cryo-scanning Electron Microscopy
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Cited by 19 •
2016
Here we describe a procedure for studying freeze-fractured plant tissues. High-pressure frozen leaf samples are freeze-fractured and double-layer coated, yielding well preserved frozen-hydrated samples that are imaged using the cryo-scanning electron microscope at high magnifications with minimal beam damage.
FAQs
Reversibility allows an assembly to form, dissociate, and reorganize without requiring permanent chemical changes. Hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attractions, hydrophobic effects, van der Waals forces, and π–π interactions can collectively stabilize a structure while preserving its ability to adapt. This behavior is especially relevant when studying molecular recognition, transport, signaling, and other changing biological processes.
The surrounding chemical environment can alter the balance among the noncovalent forces that hold an assembly together. As a result, a supramolecular structure may change its organization, stability, or interactions with other molecules. Examining these responses helps researchers connect environmental sensitivity with biological functions such as recognition, self-assembly, transport, and signaling.
Covalent structures depend on chemical bonds that directly connect atoms, whereas supramolecular organization depends on interactions among already formed molecules. This distinction gives supramolecular assemblies greater reversibility and environmental responsiveness. In biological techniques, that contrast helps researchers investigate how complex systems can assemble and adapt without permanently altering the molecules that compose them.
Researchers can analyze how molecules organize into protein complexes, lipid membranes, nucleic-acid assemblies, or molecular capsules, then examine the resulting effects on recognition, self-assembly, transport, and signaling. Observing how these systems respond to their chemical environment provides a way to study both their organization and the biological processes associated with that organization.
Engineered assemblies can support biosensor design, drug delivery, biomaterials, and nanotechnology. Their reversible interactions and environmental responsiveness make them useful as adaptable platforms rather than static structures. Depending on the system, researchers can use them to investigate molecular recognition, control transport, or connect changes in assembly with detectable biological or chemical signals.
Many biological systems depend on organized interactions among proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and other molecules. Studying their supramolecular organization links molecular-level forces with larger functions, including complex formation, membrane behavior, transport, and signaling. This perspective also supports the design of experimental platforms for examining dynamic cellular processes and developing biologically relevant materials.