Light-induced unfolding and refolding of supramolecular polymer nanofibres.

Adhikari, B; Yamada, Y; Yamauchi, M; Wakita, K; Lin, X; Aratsu, K; Ohba, T; Karatsu, T; Hollamby, MJ; Adachi, S-I; Yagai, S; Takagi, H; Haruki, R; Shimizu, N

Abstract

Unlike classical covalent polymers, one-dimensionally (1D) elongated supramolecular polymers (SPs) can be encoded with high degrees of internal order by the cooperative aggregation of molecular subunits, which endows these SPs with extraordinary properties and functions. However, this internal order has not yet been exploited to generate and dynamically control well-defined higher-order (secondary) conformations of the SP backbone, which may induce functionality that is comparable to protein folding/unfolding. Herein, we report light-induced conformational changes of SPs based on the 1D exotic stacking of hydrogen-bonded azobenzene hexamers. The stacking causes a unique internal order that leads to spontaneous curvature, which allows accessing conformations that range from randomly folded to helically folded coils. The reversible photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety destroys or recovers the curvature of the main chain, which demonstrates external control over the SP conformation that may ultimately lead to biological functions.

Citation

Adhikari, B., Yamada, Y., Yamauchi, M., Wakita, K., Lin, X., Aratsu, K., Ohba, T., Karatsu, T., Hollamby, M., Adachi, S.-I., Yagai, S., Takagi, H., Haruki, R., & Shimizu, N. (2017). Light-induced unfolding and refolding of supramolecular polymer nanofibres. Nature communications, 8, Article 15254. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15254

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 14, 2017
• Publication Date: May 10, 2017
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Print ISSN: 2041-1723
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Article Number: 15254
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15254
• Keywords: self-assembly; supramolecular polymers
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/408795
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15254