‘Like a fishing net,’ nanonet collapses to trap drug molecules

Science Daily  October 5, 2020
Natural biomolecules such as peptides and DNA can dynamically self-organize into diverse hierarchical structures. Researchers at the Northwestern University have reported both experiments and simulations on the dynamic network self-assembly and subsequent collapse of the synthetic homopolymer poly(propylene sulfone). The assembly is directed by dynamic noncovalent sulfone–sulfone bonds that are susceptible to solvent polarity. The hydration history controls the homopolymer assembly into uniform nanostructured hydrogels of spherical, vesicular, or cylindrical morphologies. The electrostatic hydrogels achieve >95% encapsulation efficiency for hydrophilic small molecules and biologics. This system validates sulfone–sulfone bonding for dynamic self-assembly, presenting a robust platform for controllable gelation, nanofabrication, and molecular encapsulation. The research presents new possibilities for diverse applications, including water purification, diagnostics and rapidly generating vaccine formulations…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Structural features of PPSU. Credit: Nature Communications volume 11, Article number: 4896 (2020)

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