Supramolecular self-assembled arrangements of maltose glyconanoparticles.
Our group previously reported the preparation of water-soluble Au-Fe(x)O(y) nanoparticles functionalized with a maltose neoglycoconjugate. A fraction soluble in methanol was also separated and originated a new supramolecular polymeric aggregate. We report here the full characterization of this novel material by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fluorescence emission, and atomic force microscopy. By means of noncontact dynamic atomic force microscopy, we have been able to obtain information about the organization of the organic components of the polymers, which eluded TEM analysis. We have observed that polymers packed in units about 65 nm in length and 40 nm in width on Au surfaces. The nanoparticles seem to be encapsulated by the organic material. We propose interactions between the sugar residues and the amphiphilic character of the maltose neoglycoconjugate (with a lipophilic undecane spacer) as responsible for the origin of these amazing supramolecular arrangements.
Fuss
Martina
M
Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid (CSIC), E-28760 Tres Cantos, and Laboratory of Glyconanotechnology, CIC biomaGUNE-CIBER-BBN, E-20009 San SebastiAn, Spain.
Luna
Mónica
M
Alcantara
David
D
Fuente
Jesús M de la
JM
Penadés
Soledad
S
Briones
Fernando
F
D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008320:Maltose / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C000499:ferric oxide; D008320:Maltose