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Interfacial dynamics mediate surface binding events on supramolecular nanostructures

Author

Listed:
  • Ty Christoff-Tempesta

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of Delaware)

  • Yukio Cho

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Stanford University)

  • Samuel J. Kaser

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Linnaea D. Uliassi

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Xiaobing Zuo

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Shayna L. Hilburg

    (University of Washington)

  • Lilo D. Pozzo

    (University of Washington)

  • Julia H. Ortony

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of California San Diego)

Abstract

The dynamic behavior of biological materials is central to their functionality, suggesting that interfacial dynamics could also mediate the activity of chemical events at the surfaces of synthetic materials. Here, we investigate the influence of surface flexibility and hydration on heavy metal remediation by nanostructures self-assembled from small molecules that are decorated with surface-bound chelators in water. We find that incorporating short oligo(ethylene glycol) spacers between the surface and interior domain of self-assembled nanostructures can drastically increase the conformational mobility of surface-bound lead-chelating moieties and promote interaction with surrounding water. In turn, we find the binding affinities of chelators tethered to the most flexible surfaces are more than ten times greater than the least flexible surfaces. Accordingly, nanostructures composed of amphiphiles that give rise to the most dynamic surfaces are capable of remediating thousands of liters of 50 ppb Pb2+-contaminated water with single grams of material. These findings establish interfacial dynamics as a critical design parameter for functional self-assembled nanostructures.

Suggested Citation

  • Ty Christoff-Tempesta & Yukio Cho & Samuel J. Kaser & Linnaea D. Uliassi & Xiaobing Zuo & Shayna L. Hilburg & Lilo D. Pozzo & Julia H. Ortony, 2024. "Interfacial dynamics mediate surface binding events on supramolecular nanostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51494-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51494-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davide Bochicchio & Matteo Salvalaglio & Giovanni M. Pavan, 2017. "Into the Dynamics of a Supramolecular Polymer at Submolecular Resolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
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