title: Dual stimuli-responsive self-assembled supramolecular nanoparticles.
abstract: Supramolecular nanoparticles (SNPs) encompass multiple copies of different building blocks brought together by specific noncovalent interactions. The inherently multivalent nature of these systems allows control of their size as well as their assembly and disassembly, thus promising potential as biomedical delivery vehicles. Here, dual responsive SNPs have been based on the ternary host-guest complexation between cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), a methyl viologen (MV) polymer, and mono- and multivalent azobenzene (Azo) functionalized molecules. UV switching of the Azo groups led to fast disruption of the ternary complexes, but to a relatively slow disintegration of the SNPs. Alternating UV and Vis photoisomerization of the Azo groups led to fully reversible SNP disassembly and reassembly. SNPs were only formed with the Azo moieties in the trans and the MV units in the oxidized states, respectively, thus constituting a supramolecular AND logic gate.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Nanofabrication group MESA+Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede (The Netherlands) http://www.utwente.nl/tnw/mnf.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoffelen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voskuhl
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jonkheijm
authors.forename: Jurriaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huskens
keywords: host-guest systems; nanoparticles; photochemistry; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry