title: Combining supramolecular chemistry with biology.
abstract: Supramolecular chemistry has primarily found its inspiration in biological molecules, such as proteins and lipids, and their interactions. Currently the supramolecular assembly of designed compounds can be controlled to great extent. This provides the opportunity to combine these synthetic supramolecular elements with biomolecules for the study of biological phenomena. This tutorial review focuses on the possibilities of the marriage of synthetic supramolecular architectures and biological systems. It highlights that synthetic supramolecular elements are for example ideal platforms for the recognition and modulation of proteins and cells. The unique features of synthetic supramolecular systems with control over size, shape, valency, and interaction strength allow the generation of structures fitting the demands to approach the biological problems at hand. Supramolecular chemistry has come full circle, studying the biology and its molecules which initially inspired its conception.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dana A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Uhlenheuer
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petkau
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunsveld
mesh_terms: D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods*; D002621:Chemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water