Fluorous phase mediated self-assembly of bioinspired functional nanostructures

FLUO 18

Virgil Percec, percec@sas.upenn.edu, Roy & Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323
Our laboratory is involved in the use of biological systems as models for the elaboration of new concepts at the interface between macromolecular, supramolecular and biological sciences. These concepts are subsequently used in the design of functional complex soft materials by following the biological principles, structure determines functions (Science 1997, 278, 449-452; Nature 1998, 391, 161-164; Nature 2002, 419, 384-387; Science 2003, 299, 1208-1211; Nature 2004, 428, 157-160; Nature 2004, 430, 764-768; PNAS 2006, 103, 2518-2523). This lecture will discuss the elaboration of helical porous supramolecular and macromolecular structures as mimics of helical porous transmembrane proteins and their use in the reconstruction of the cell membrane and of its fundamental transport functions. Additional biological systems will be used to assemble complex matter that acts as molecular machines and provides high charge carrier mobility. The design of complex soft matter that displays the most primitive sign of intelligence such as memory effect will also be discussed. The role of the fluorous phase in the self-assembly of these complex functional nanostructures will be discussed.