Self-assembly of large and small molecules into hierarchically ordered sacs and membranes

被引：512

作者：

Capito, Ramille M. ^{[1
]}

Azevedo, Helena S. ^{[1
,2
]}

Velichko, Yuri S. ^{[3
]}

Mata, Alvaro ^{[1
]}

Stupp, Samuel I. ^{[1
,3
,4
,5
]}

机构：

[1] Northwestern Univ, Inst Bionanotechnol Med, Chicago, IL 60611 USA

[2] Univ Minho, Dept Polymer Engn, 3Bs Res Grp, Braga, Portugal

[3] Northwestern Univ, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Chicago, IL 60208 USA

[4] Northwestern Univ, Dept Chem, Evanston, IL 60208 USA

[5] Northwestern Univ, Dept Med, Chicago, IL 60611 USA

来源：

SCIENCE | 2008年 / 319卷 / 5871期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1126/science.1154586

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

We report here the self- assembly of macroscopic sacs and membranes at the interface between two aqueous solutions, one containing a megadalton polymer and the other, small self- assembling molecules bearing opposite charge. The resulting structures have a highly ordered architecture in which nanofiber bundles align and reorient by nearly 90 degrees as the membrane grows. The formation of a diffusion barrier upon contact between the two liquids prevents their chaotic mixing. We hypothesize that growth of the membrane is then driven by a dynamic synergy between osmotic pressure of ions and static self- assembly. These robust, self- sealing macroscopic structures offer opportunities in many areas, including the formation of privileged environments for cells, immune barriers, new biological assays, and self- assembly of ordered thick membranes for diverse applications.

引用

页码：1812 / 1816

页数：5