Variation in mixed solvent composition switches gel selectivity! Molecular Recognition discovery to facilitate realization of macroscopic assembly systems

Variation in mixed solvent composition switches gel selectivity! Molecular Recognition discovery to facilitate realization of macroscopic assembly systems

May 16, 2012

A team researchers in the Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, under the leadership of Professor HARADA Akira (also affiliated with Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology [CREST]) have, for a world first, demonstrated macroscopic assembly based on molecular recognition -- an important step toward harnessing the power of molecular recognition for the production of new highly functional materials.

They used polyacrylamide gel modified with pyrenyl (Py) moiety (Py-gel) and gels possessing CD moieties ( αCD -gel, βCD -gel and γCD -gel) in a mixed solvent of water and dimethyl sulfoxide. They discovered that simply by changing the composition of the mixed solvent, they were able to switch the selectivity of Py-gel. They attribute this phenomenon to the fractions of the monomer and dimer of the Py moieties on the gel surface depend on the mixed solvent composition. The monomer and dimer of the Py moieties "prefer" βCD and γCD moieties, respectively.

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To learn more about their important discovery, please read the full research report entitled "Switching of macroscopic molecular recognition selectivity using a mixed solvent system" at this page in the Nature Communications website.

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