Helical poly(isocyanide)s are an important class of synthetic polymers possessing a static helical structure. Since their initial discovery, numerous examples of these helices have been fabricated. In this contribution, the synthesis of a chiral, azobenzene (azo)‐containing isocyanide monomer is reported. Upon polymerization with nickel(II) catalysts, a well‐defined circular dichroism (CD) trace is obtained, corresponding to the formation of a right‐handed polymeric helix. The helical polymer, dissolved in chloroform and irradiated with UV light (365 nm), undergoes a
This content will become publicly available on November 6, 2024
- Award ID(s):
- 2122399
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10514947
- Publisher / Repository:
- Taylor&Francis
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Liquid Crystals
- ISSN:
- 0267-8292
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 9
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
more » « less
Abstract cis totrans isomerization of the azobenzene side‐chains. After the isomerization, a change in conformation of the helix occurs, as evidenced by CD spectroscopy. When the solution is irradiated with LED light, the polymer returns to a right‐handed helical conformation. To open up the possibility for chain‐end post‐polymerization modification of this light‐responsive system, an alkyne‐functionalized nickel(II) catalyst is also used in the polymerization of the azobenzene monomer, resulting in a stimuli‐responsive, terminal‐alkyne‐containing helical poly(isocyanide). -
more » « less
Abstract Photoinduced charge transfer and separation events in a newly synthesized azobenzene‐bridged perylenediimide‐dimer (PDI‐dimer) are demonstrated. Trans‐to‐cis conversion (∼50 % efficiency) from the initial trans PDI‐dimer by 355 nm pulsed laser light, and its reversal, cis‐to‐trans, process by 435 nm laser light irradiation has been possible to accomplish. Efficient fluorescence quenching in the PDI‐dimer, more so for the cis isomer was witnessed, and such quenching increased with increasing solvent polarity. DFT‐calculated geometry and electronic structures helped in visualizing the charge transfer in the PDI‐dimer in both isomeric forms, and also revealed certain degree of participation of the azobenzene entity in the charge transfer events. Femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies confirmed occurrence of both charge transfer followed by charge separation in the studied PDI‐dimer in both trans and cis forms in polar solvents, and the evaluated time constants from Global target analysis revealed accelerated events in the cis PDI‐dimer due to proximity effects. The present study offers key insights on the role of the azobenzene bridge, and the dimer geometry in governing the excited state charge transfer and separation in symmetrically linked PDI dimer.
-
more » « less
Abstract Photo‐affinity adsorbents (i.e., translucent matrices functionalized with ligands featuring light‐controlled biorecognition) represent a futuristic technology for purifying labile biologics. In this study, a framework for prototyping photo‐affinity adsorbents comprising azobenzene‐cyclized peptides (ACPs) conjugated to translucent porous beads (ChemMatrix) is presented. This approach combines computational and experimental tools for designing ACPs and investigating their light‐controlled isomerization kinetics and protein biorecognition. First, a modular design for tailoring ACP's conformation, facilitating sequencing, and streamlining the in silico modeling of cis/trans isomers and their differential protein binding is introduced. Then, a spectroscopic system for measuring the photo‐isomerization kinetics of ACPs on ChemMatrix beads is reported; using this device, it is demonstrated that the isomerization at different light intensities is correlated to the cyclization geometry, specifically the energy difference of trans versus cis isomers as calculated in silico. Also, a microfluidic device for sorting ACP‐ChemMatrix beads to select and validate photo‐affinity ligands using Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM‐1) as target protein and cycloAZOB[GVHAKQHRN‐K*]‐G‐ChemMatrix as model photo‐affinity adsorbent is presented. The proposed ACPs exhibit rapid and defined light‐controlled isomerization and biorecognition. Controlling the adsorption and release of VCAM‐1 using light demonstrates the potential of photo‐affinity adsorbents for targets whose biochemical liability poses challenges to its purification.
-
Photoinduced reconfiguration to control the protein-binding affinity of azobenzene-cyclized peptidesThe impact of next-generation biorecognition elements (ligands) will be determined by the ability to remotely control their binding activity for a target biomolecule in complex environments. Compared to conventional mechanisms for regulating binding affinity (pH, ionic strength, or chaotropic agents), light provides higher accuracy and rapidity, and is particularly suited for labile targets. In this study, we demonstrate a general method to develop azobenzene-cyclized peptide ligands with light-controlled affinity for target proteins. Light triggers a cis/trans isomerization of the azobenzene, which results in a major structural rearrangement of the cyclic peptide from a non-binding to a binding configuration. Critical to this goal are the abiliy to achieve efficient photo-isomerization under low light dosage and the temporal stability of both cis and trans isomers. We demonstrated our method by designing photo-switchable peptides targeting vascular cell adhesion marker 1 (VCAM1), a cell marker implicated in stem cell function. Starting from a known VCAM1-binding linear peptide, an ensemble of azobenzene-cyclized variants with selective light-controlled binding were identified by combining in silico design with experimental characterization via spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance. Variant cycloAZOB[G-VHAKQHRN-K] featured rapid, light-controlled binding of VCAM1 (KD,Trans/KD,Cis ~ 130). Biotin-cycloAZOB[G-VHAKQHRN-K] was utilized to label brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), showing co-localization with anti-VCAM1 antibodies in cis configuration and negligible binding in trans configuration.more » « less
-
Chiral organosilica particles of size ~200 nm were synthesized from an enantio-pure multi-armed chiral D-maltose organosilane precursor in the absence of co-condensation with an achiral monomer. Two distinct experiments were performed to demonstrate the particles’ ability to induce conformational deracemization of a host liquid crystal. The first involves an electric field-induced tilt of the liquid crystal director in the deracemized smectic-A phase. The other involves domain wall curvature separating left- and right-handed liquid crystal helical pitch domains imposed by the cells’ substrates. The results demonstrate unequivocally that enantio-pure organosilica nanoparticles can be synthesized and can induce chirality in a host.more » « less
