Active Transport of Macrocycles into Micelles Using Molecular Pumps
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: During the past decade, researchers have designed and synthesised a variety of artificial molecular pumps capable of the active transport of macrocycles (rings) from free solution into mechanically interlocked states. In their ability to drive non‐equilibrium transport, these artificial molecular pumps imitate natural transmembrane transporters, which are widespread in living organisms. Despite this resemblance, ring‐threading molecular pumps have not previously been operated in aqueous supramolecular assemblies in imitation of their natural counterparts. Here, we demonstrate the active transport of charged macrocycles from aqueous solution into micellar assemblies of polymer chains, which remain stable after pumping has occurred. While micelles are used routinely to encapsulate and solubilise hydrophobic small molecules in aqueous solution, this report, by contrast, shows that artificial molecular pumps can harness external energy to drive hydrophilic molecules into micelles where they are stored at concentrations far from equilibrium.
Source: Angewandte Chemie
Language: English
Subfield: Organic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,790
Funders: National Science Foundation, Northwestern University, National Institutes of Health, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Division of Materials Research, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
Awards: NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G2233802770, G2343375527, G3010471893, G3203750490, NMR Cryoprobe for Structural Biology Research, Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G4958141111, G6540817556, 600 MHz NMR Instrument Upgrade at Northwestern University
OpenAlex ID: W4414425786