Acetylcholine‐Triggered Cargo Release from Supramolecular Nanovalves Based on Different Macrocyclic Receptors

Abstract

Acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter located in cholinergic synapses, can trigger cargo release from mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with calixarene- or pillarene-based nanovalves by removing macrocycles from the stalk components. The amount and speed of cargo release can be controlled by varying the concentration of ACh in solution or changing the type of gating macrocycle. Although this proof-of-concept study is far from a real-life application, it provides a possible route to treat diseases related to the central nervous system.

Selected applications of calixarene derivatives

“…One ought to pay attention to an increasing number of works concerning application of calixarenes in the biological 99,100 and pharmaceutical fields, 5,6 and as a result one may expect further progress in these wide and important research areas. It is noteworthy that the applications of calixarenes are diversified; one may mention here the preparation of calixarene-based ionic liquids, 101,102 and formation of metal NPs, 103,104 today intensively studied.…”

Pillar[n]arenes at the Chemistry‐Biology Interface

“…The Yang group used the pillar[ n ]arenes’ controlled release properties by adsorbing 4 a onto the surfaces of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) previously modified to be covered with propylpyridinium groups . When the MSNs were loaded with rhodamine 6G, before being capped with 4 a , the dye was released by acetylcholine proportional to the dose delivered.…”

Competitive-Binding Activated Supramolecular Nanovalves Based on β-Cyclodextrin Complexes

“…constructed the other CBAN of cucurbituril/butanediamine complexes activated by cationic competitors 1, 6‐hexanediamine . Recently, Yang et al . and Du et al .…”