title: Multivalency in supramolecular chemistry and nanofabrication.
abstract: Multivalency is a powerful and versatile self-assembly pathway that confers unique thermodynamic and kinetic behavior onto supramolecular complexes. The diversity of the examples of supramolecular multivalent systems discussed in this perspective shows that the concept of multivalency is a general phenomenon, and that any supramolecular interaction can be employed in multivalent displays to attain the attractive aspects characteristic of multivalent interactions. After a general introduction reviewing the general aspects of multivalency, a number of different supramolecular multivalent complexes are discussed that highlight the different features of multivalent interactions. In contrast to the many biochemical multivalent interactions, supramolecular multivalent interactions are ideal to attain a quantitative and fundamental understanding of multivalency. Several examples in which multivalency has been utilized in supramolecular nanofabrication schemes are described in detail.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Supramolecular Chemistry and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alart
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Jurriaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskens
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Reinhoudt
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000737:chemistry; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003505:Cyclodextrins; D014640:Vancomycin; D000409:Alanine