quantitative-sers-detection-uric-acid-via-formation-precise-plasmonic

Quantitative SERS Detection of Uric Acid via Formation of Precise Plasmonic Nanojunctions within Aggregates of Gold Nanoparticles and Cucurbit[<em>n</em>]uril

This work describes a rapid and highly sensitive method for the quantitative detection of an important biomarker, uric acid (UA), via surface-enhanced ...

University College London (UCL)

Host-guest inclusion complexes are abundant in molecular systems and of fundamental importance in living organisms. Realizing a colloidal analogue of a molecular dynamic inclusion complex is challenging because inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) with a well-defined cavity and portal are difficult to synthesize in high yield and with good structural fidelity. Herein, a generic strategy towards the fabrication of dynamic 1:1 inclusion complexes of metal nanoparticles inside oxide nanocups with high yield (>70%) and regiospecificity (>90%) by means of a reactive double Janus nanoparticle intermediate is reported. Experimental evidence confirms that the inclusion complexes are formed by a kinetically controlled mechanism involving a delicate interplay between bipolar galvanic corrosion and alloying-dealloying oxidation. Release of the NP guest from the nanocups can be efficiently triggered by an external stimulus.

Dynamic inclusion complexes of metal nanoparticles inside nanocups.

The delivery of genetic materials into cells to elicit cellular responses has been extensively studied by biomaterials scientists globally. Many materials such as lipids, peptides, viruses, synthetically modified cationic polymers and certain inorganic nanomaterials could be used to complex the negatively charged plasmids and deliver the formed package into cells. The recent literature on the delivery of genetic materials utilising inorganic nanoparticles is carefully examined in this review. We have picked out the most relevant references and concisely summarised the findings with illustrated examples. We further propose alternative approaches and suggest future pathways towards the practical use of multifunctional nanocarriers. 

Utilising inorganic nanocarriers for gene delivery.

Artificial nanomachines can be broadly defined as manmade molecular and nanosystems that are capable of performing useful tasks, very often, by means of doing mechanical work at the nanoscale. Recent advances in nanoscience allow these tiny machines to be designed and made with unprecedented sophistication and complexity, showing promise in novel applications, including molecular assemblers, self-propelling nanocarriers and in vivo molecular computation. This Feature Article overviews and compares major types of nanoscale machines, including molecular machines, self-assembled nanomachines and hybrid inorganic nanomachines, to reveal common structural features and operating principles across different length scales and material systems. We will focus on systems with feature size between 1 and 100 nm, where classical laws of physics meet those of quantum mechanics, giving rise to a spectrum of exotic physiochemical properties. Concepts of nanomachines will be illustrated by selected seminal work along with state-of-the-art progress, including our own contribution, across the fields. The Article will conclude with a brief outlook of this exciting research area.

Artificial molecular and nanostructures for advanced nanomachinery.

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) is an artificial macrocyclic molecule that can form exceptionally strong host-guest complexes with binding constants higher than that of the biotin-avidin complex. Despite notable experimental efforts, there do not exist large-scale computational investigations on finding strongly binding guests of CB[7]. Herein, we develop a computational approach based on large-scale molecular modelling to predict strongly binding hydrocarbon motifs. Our results indicate that an expanded cubane (PubChem ID 101402794) will be the most strongly binding hydrocarbon guest of CB[7] among the hundreds of thousands of hydrocarbons in the PubChem database, achieving a binding affinity significantly stronger than those reported in preceding experimental studies. Our findings highlight the important role of charge complementarity in the form of quadrupole electrostatic interactions in enabling the ultrahigh binding affinity of nonpolar guest molecules with CB[7], in addition to other known contributions such as van der Waals interactions and high-energy water release.

Article	Year
Dynamic inclusion complexes of metal nanoparticles inside nanocups. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)\| PubMed ID: 25959070	2015
Utilising inorganic nanocarriers for gene delivery. Biomaterials science\| PubMed ID: 26484365	2016
Artificial molecular and nanostructures for advanced nanomachinery. Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)\| PubMed ID: 29484317	2018
Ultrahigh binding affinity of a hydrocarbon guest inside cucurbit[7]uril enhanced by strong host-guest charge matching. Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP\| PubMed ID: 31241082	2019

Tung-Chun Lee

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