Muscle-like supramolecular polymers: integrated motion from thousands of molecular machines.
Pumping iron: Double-threaded rotaxanes can be linked to coordination units and polymerized in the presence of iron or zinc ions. pH modulation triggers cooperative contractions (or extensions) of the individual rotaxanes, thus resulting in an amplified motion of the muscle-like supramolecular chains with changes of their contour lengths of several micrometers (see picture).
SAMS Research Group, University of Strasbourg, Institut Charles Sadron, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, BP 84047, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France.
Guangyan
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Du
Emilie
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Moulin
Nicolas
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Jouault
Eric
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Buhler
Nicolas
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Giuseppone