Title
Molecular Motors in Aqueous Environment
Author
Anouk S. Lubbe, Christian Böhmer, Filippo Tosi, Wiktor Szymanski, Ben L. Feringa
Year
2018
Journal
The Journal of Organic Chemistry
Abstract
Molecular motors are Nature’s solution for (supra)molecular transport and muscle functioning and are involved in most forms of directional motion at the cellular level. Their synthetic counterparts have also found a myriad of applications, ranging from molecular machines and smart materials to catalysis and anion transport. Although light-driven rotary molecular motors are likely be suitable for use in an artificial cell, as well as in bionanotechnology, thus far they are not readily applied under physiological conditions. This results mainly from their inherently aromatic core structure, which makes them insoluble in aqueous solution. Here, the study of the dynamic behaviour of these motors in biologically relevant media is described. Two molecular motors were equipped with solubilizing substituents and studied in aqueous solutions. Additionally, the behaviour of a previously reported molecular motor was studied in micelles, as a model system for the biologically relevant confined environment. Design principles were established for molecular motors in these media, and insights are given into pH-dependent behaviour. The work presented herein may provide a basis for the application of the remarkable properties of molecular motors in more advanced biohybrid systems.
Full Article
Instrument
J-810
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Stereochemistry, Organic chemistry