title: Chemical complexity--supramolecular self-assembly of synthetic and biological building blocks in water.
abstract: Aqueous supramolecular chemistry, the non-covalent assembly of simple building blocks into higher ordered architectures in water has received much focus recently. Biological systems are able to form complex, and well-defined microstructures essential to cellular function, and supramolecular chemistry has demonstrated its utility in assembling molecules to form increasingly complex assemblies. This tutorial review will summarise non-covalent building blocks based on both synthetic and biological systems in an aqueous environment, emphasising the complexity of the assemblies formed. Examples of higher ordered assemblies will be highlighted, from supramolecular plastics to spider silks, towards more compartmentalised protocell precursors.
authors.affiliation: Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
authors.forename: Jameel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zayed
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nouvel
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rauwald
authors.forename: Oren A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Scherman
mesh_terms: D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water