Cucurbiturils‐Mediated Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Applications in Sensing, SERS, Theranostics, and Catalysis

Abstract

Noble metal nanoparticles (NMNPs), which spring up like mushrooms, are gaining momentum owing to their unique physicochemical characteristics. Cucurbiturils, a class of synthetic macrocycles with intriguing and peculiar host–guest properties, have stimulated tremendous research interest in recent years. The marriage of NMNPs with cucurbiturils is expected to integrate and enhance the excellent characteristics of both components, e.g., precisely controlled particle size, stability, assembly, surface functionality, biocompatibility, tunable optical properties, and high catalytic activities. This review systematically outlines the recent progress on the fabricating strategies and important applications of cucurbiturils‐mediated NMNPs in sensing, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering, theranostics, and catalysis. A brief outlook on the future development of cucurbiturils‐mediated NMNPs is also presented.

Towards practical and sustainable SERS: a review of recent developments in the construction of multifunctional enhancing substrates

“…[259][260][261] More specifically, the macromolecules capture and place the analyte molecules within the enhancing surface plasmon through weak intermolecular interactions, such as cation-dipole interactions or hydrophobic force. 262 Therefore, this approach is most useful for SERS analysis of analyte molecules with a decent Raman cross-section but low affinity to the enhancing surface. For example, Pérez-Juste, Pastoriza-Santos, et al designed reusable supramolecular plasmonic films composed of multiple layers of plasmonic Au nanospheres, which have been modified with ammonium pillar [5] arene (AP[5]A) macrocycles for the detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, as illustrated in Figure 19C.…”

Recent Advances on Host–Guest Material Systems toward Organic Room Temperature Phosphorescence

“…Owing to the strong hydrophobic interactions of CB[n], they are appropriate candidates to form the inclusion complex between the doped molecules for the preparation of host-guest RTP materials. [133][134][135] Additionally, the RTP properties of CB-based material systems can be effectively modulated by tuning ion-dipole interactions between carbonyl oxygens of glycoluril and positively charged atoms of dopants. The CB[n] (n = 7 or 8) induced host-guest RTP (CB-RTP) materials were reported firstly by Tao and co-workers [136] in 2007 using quinoline derivatives as luminophores; by tuning the luminescent guest of quinoline derivatives (Scheme 2, G14-G19), the RTP emission bands could be tuned from 498 to 530 nm.…”

Revealing unconventional host–guest complexation at nanostructured interface by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

“…Host–guest chemistry offers a reversible and versatile way to achieve high-fidelity recognition between host and guest molecules; therefore, it is widely employed in homogeneous solutions 1 – 4 . In recent studies, host–guest systems have been used on solid surfaces to functionalize nanomaterials 5 – 12 . The results showed that the host–guest complexation behavior on surfaces may differ from those observed in solutions.…”