Self-Assembling Organic Nanotubes.
Hollow tubular structures of molecular dimensions perform diverse biological functions in nature. Examples include scaffolding and packaging roles played by cytoskeletal microtubules and viral coat proteins, respectively, as well as the chemical transport and screening activities of membrane channels. In the preparation of such tubular assemblies, biological systems make extensive use of self-assembling and self-organizing strategies. Owing to numerous potential applications in areas such as chemistry, biology, and materials science considerable effort has recently been devoted to preparation of artificial nanotubular structures. This article reviews design principles and the preparation of synthetic organic nanotubes, with special emphasis on noncovalent processes such as self-assembly and self-organization.
Bong
Dennis T.
DT
Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology The Scripps Research Institute 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 (USA).
Clark
Thomas D.
TD
Granja
Juan R.
JR
Ghadiri
M. Reza
MR