Bioorganic Nanostructures – Supramolecular Chemistry

Syllabus

The course provides an analytical first overview of supramolecular chemistry and methods for the construction of self-organizing (bio)nanostructures. It aims at understanding the principles of supramolecular chemistry of intermolecular interactions that determine the formation of supramolecular structures. The fundamental interactions of self-organizing host-guest systems and functional supramolecular devices are analyzed using examples from nature and modern scientific literature. The most important approaches to the design of supramolecular systems are presented along with their properties and functions.

1. Nanotechnology: definition, approaches, perspectives.
2. Supramolecular chemistry: Definition and basic principles. Self-organization.
3. Intermolecular interactions. Self-organization: Amphiphilic molecules. Polymers, helical polymers, supramolecular polymers. Peptides. Proteins. Oligonucleotides.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide knowledge of the basic definitions and concepts of supramolecular chemistry, an overview of the fundamental interactions governing self-assembly and its application to living organisms and synthetic nanostructures, and finally a first consideration of current trends in the design of supramolecular assemblies and devices based on current literature.

Recommended Bibliography

1. “Core Concepts in Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanochemistry”, Jonathan W. Steed, David R. Turner and Karl J. Wallace. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd:  Chichester. 2007.
2. “Supramolecular chemistry: Concepts and perspectives”, J.-M. Lehn, VCH, Weinheim 1995.
3. “Application of supramolecular chemistry”, Schneider, H.J., , CRC Press 2012.