About supramolecular systems for dynamically probing cells

Abstract

This article reviews the state of the art in the development of strategies for generating supramolecular systems for dynamic cell studies. Dynamic systems are crucial to further our understanding of cell biology and are consequently at the heart of many medical applications. Increasing interest has therefore been focused recently on rendering systems bioactive and dynamic that can subsequently be employed to engage with cells. Different approaches using supramolecular chemistry are reviewed with particular emphasis on their application in cell studies. We conclude with an outlook on future challenges for dynamic cell research and applications.

Redox-active host-guest supramolecular assemblies of peptides and proteins at surfaces

“…Assemblies of peptides and proteins on arrays, beads, chips, scaffolds and aggregates play an increasingly important role in the development of bioanalytics and biomedicine [1,2]. Protein-modified surfaces are also of interest for the study of cell growth and cell differentiation [3].…”

“…While interfacing static, non-living systems with dynamic, living matter is an essential step in applying biomaterials in tissue regeneration, finding the optimum interface is a formidable task [1]. The highly complex composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its complex interaction with the so-called molecular fingerprints on cell membranes make it a highly challenging task to create model systems.…”

“…The highly complex composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its complex interaction with the so-called molecular fingerprints on cell membranes make it a highly challenging task to create model systems. Since natural interfaces between the cell and its interacting ligands are built on non-covalent interactions, chemical systems relying on non-covalent binding such as hydrophobic, van der Waals, ion-dipole or hydrogen bonds are being explored and representing a promising approach to mimic natural cell-ECM interactions [1]. Self-assembly is an attractive tool and an efficient bottom-up strategy to govern thermodynamic control aiming to position ligands at predefined locations and the modulation of those positions [1].…”

Stimuli‐Responsive Cucurbit[n]uril‐Mediated Host‐Guest Complexes on Surfaces

“…Dynamic surfaces play an important role in many processes in living systems and as such CB[n]-mediated dynamic surfaces could be important in achieving a mimic of dynamic aspects of living systems and subsequently could be utilized in biomaterials, tissue engineering, biosensors and cell biology. [55][56][57] With sophisticated surface analytical tools and methods such as atomic and dynamic force spectroscopy (AFM and DFS), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and fluorescence microscopy the ability to anchor CB[n] to surfaces and subsequent CB[n]-guest interactions on surfaces has been characterized and studied. [58][59][60][61] In general, anchoring of CB[n] to surfaces has been achieved in different ways as depicted in Figure 5.…”

“…[58][59][60][61] In general, anchoring of CB[n] to surfaces has been achieved in different ways as depicted in Figure 5. [11,57,[62][63][64][65][66] When able to covalently functionalize the CB [7] macrocycle via covalent modification of CB[n] in a strongly oxidative environment to generate reactive perallyloxy sidegroups Kim and coworkers set out to employ these functional groups to covalently anchor CB [6] and CB [7] onto surfaces. Perallyloxy-CB [6] could be anchored via the thiol-ene reaction with thiol-functionalized glass slides to form a thioether bond between surface and macrocycle ( Figure 5a).…”