Self-Assembly: From Amphiphiles to Chromophores and Beyond

Abstract

Self-assembly has been recognised as a ubiquitous aspect of modern chemistry. Our understanding and applications of self-assembly are substantially based on what has been learned from biochemical systems. In this review, we describe various aspects of self-assembly commencing with an account of the soft structures that are available by assembly of surfactant amphiphiles, which are important scientific and industrial materials. Variation of molecular design using rules defined by surfactant self-assembly permits synthesis of functional nanostructures in solution and at surfaces while increasing the strength of intermolecular interactions through π-π stacking, metal cation coordination and/or hydrogen bonding leads to formation of highly complex bespoke nanostructured materials exemplified by DNA assemblies. We describe the origins of self-assembly involving aggregation of lipid amphiphiles and how this subject has been expanded to include other highly advanced chemical systems.

Paucity of Nanolayering in Resin-Dentin Interfaces of MDP-based Adhesives

“…Because of their amphiphilic properties, surfactant molecules exhibit a tendency to aggregate, with the hydrophilic domains exposed to water and the hydrophobic domains shielded from water (Hill et al 2014). In aqueous solutions, surfactant molecules and amphiphiles self-assemble into various microstructures such as micelles, monolayer or bilayer, column-shaped, or cubic mesophases (Hao and Hoffman 2004;Ramanathan et al 2013).…”

Direct Synthesis of Polymer Vesicles on the Hundred‐Nanometer‐and‐Beyond Scale Using Chemical Oscillations

“…The self‐assembly of block copolymers in aqueous environments is important for many different applications such as nanomedicine, nanoreactors, and mimicking some features of life . After polymer synthesis, the typical self‐assembly of block copolymers into collective structures is achieved by dissolving one block in a favourable solvent, enabling reorganization of the other block to form some desirable morphology . The only variable in these methods is the solvent properties as the block copolymer used has a fixed molecular weight and a fixed diblock composition.…”

“…[3] After polymer synthesis, the typical self-assembly of block copolymers into collective structures is achieved by dissolving one block in af avourables olvent,e nabling reorganization of the other block to form some desirable morphology. [4][5][6][7] The only variable in thesem ethods is the solventp roperties as the blockc opolymer used has af ixed molecular weighta nd a fixed diblock composition. They involve separatemultistep and complicated synthesis together with rigorous purificationo f polymer,w hich are not only time consuming but also require more directhuman intervention.…”

Self-assembling systems based on quaternized derivatives of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in nutrient broth as antimicrobial agents and carriers for hydrophobic drugs

“…One of the key properties of surfactants responsible for their wide application in modern technologies [1][2][3][4] is their ability to form aggregates in solution above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) [5]. This fundamental property of surfactants resulting from their amphiphilic nature has received much attention in recent papers [6,7].…”