| Description |
Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) is a concept where reversible chemistry under thermodynamic control is used to generate complex dynamic libraries. In this talk I will describe the application of DCC towards the supramolecular self-assembly of amino acid derived building blocks into hydrogen-bonded nanotubes with the ability to encapsulate fullerenes. Moving on, I will also illustrate the importance of the hydrophobic effect in the formation of topologically complex molecules such as molecular knots and links.
In the second part of my talk, I will extend the principles of supramolecular chemistry to the self-assembly of multilayered 2D and 3D DNA nanostructures: DNA origami. DNA nanostructures have significant applications in biomedicine due to their biodegradability and their ability to be site specifically functionalized allowing for precise interactions with target molecules and cells. Currently, the biomedical applications of DNA nanostructures are, however, hindered due to their structural instability and nuclease degradability in physiological buffers. After a brief introduction to the field of DNA origami I will give an update on the development of a novel oligolysine based method that provides intracellular stability to DNA nanostructures for biomedical applications such as the design of a DNA based cancer adjuvant. |