No abstract

One step sol–gel reaction, followed by solvent exchange free ambient pressure drying resulted in various monolithic silica aerogels from super-hydrophobic to hydrophilic with densities as low as 0.026 g cm−3 and thermal conductivities lower than air.

Condensation of DNAh elices into hexagonally packed bundles and toroids represents an intriguing example of functional organization of biological macromolecules at the nanoscale.T he condensation models are based on the unique polyelectrolyte features of DNA, however here we could reproduce aD NA-like condensation with supramolecular helices of small chiral molecules,t hereby demonstrating that it is am ore general phenomenon. We showt hat the bile salt sodium deoxycholate can form supramolecular helices upon interaction with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes of homopolymer or blockc opolymers.A th igher order,acontrolled hexagonal packing of the helices into DNA-like bundles and toroids could be accomplished. The results disclose unknown similarities between covalent and supramolecular non-covalent helical polyelectrolytes,w hich inspire visionary ideas of constructing supramolecular versions of biological macromolecules.A sd rug nanocarriers the polymer-bile salt superstructures would get advantage of ac omplex chirality at molecular and supramolecular levels,w hose effect on the nanocarrier assisted drug efficiency is as till unexplored fascinating issue.

Electrostatically driven co-assembly of oppositely charged block copolymers and bile salt anticipates bile salt sequestration based on amphiphilic block copolymers.