Supramolecular Chemistry

276 Pages·2010·6.06 MB·English

by  Peter J. Cragg

Supramolecular Chemistry

Peter J. Cragg
Supramolecular Chemistry
From Biological Inspiration to Biomedical
Applications
123
Dr.PeterJ.Cragg
SchoolofPharmacyandBiomolecularSciences
UniversityofBrighton
HuxleyBldg,LewesRoad
BN24GJBrighton
UK
[email protected]
ISBN978-90-481-2581-4 e-ISBN978-90-481-2582-1
DOI10.1007/978-90-481-2582-1
SpringerDordrechtHeidelbergLondonNewYork
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2010932601
©SpringerScience+BusinessMediaB.V.2010
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ForJamesandAlex

Preface
From its origins in the last quarter of the 20th Century the field of supramolecu-
lar chemistry has expanded to encompass a vast amount of science carried out at
thenanoscaleyetitisoftenforgottenthattheinitialinspirationforsupramolecular
chemistscamefromtheworldofmolecularbiology.Biologicalprocessesconstruct
complex,highlyfunctionalmolecularassembliesusinganarrayofreversibleinter-
molecular forces. The balance between these forces lies at the heart of enzyme
catalysis, DNA replication, the translation of RNA into proteins, transmembrane
iontransport,andawealthofotherbiologicalphenomena.Pioneeringsupramolec-
ular chemists sought to replicate the same complex and subtle interactions in the
laboratorysothattheycouldmimicthehighlyefficientwaythatchemistryisdone
inNature.Keytothesuccessofthefieldhasbeentheabilityofskilledscientiststo
applytheirknowledgeoftheseinteractionstothedesignofunnaturalmolecules.As
aconsequencetheyareabletopreparehighlyspecificsensors,imagingagentsand
pharmaceuticals,manyofwhichareinwidespreadusetoday.
Despiteanumberofexcellentbooksdevotedtosupramolecularchemistrythere
are none that discuss its biological origins and biomedical applications in detail.
The aim of this book is to return to the biomimicry and medicinal potential that
inspired many of the early supramolecular chemists and to set it in the context of
current advances in the field. It starts with an overview, covering the background
to the field, the types of molecules and interactions commonly encountered, and
methods for investigating the formation of supramolecules. In subsequent chap-
ters parallels are drawn with biological phenomena: the formation of proteins and
other biomolecules, self-replication and the origins of life, the evolution of cells,
and the design of channel-forming molecules and enzymes. The application of
supramolecularprinciplestosensorsandmagicbullettherapiesisexplainedandthe
future of supramolecular therapeutics is considered. The exciting combination of
supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology is discussed together with the like-
lihood that nanoengineered smart materials could one day circulate in the body,
seeking out diseased cells or repairing damaged tissue, so that individuals could
receivetreatmentevenbeforeanyhealthproblemswereapparent.
Brighton,UK PeterJ.Cragg
11thMay2010
vii

Acknowledgements
ComputationalresultswereobtainedusingSpartan’08(WavefunctionInc.,Irvine,
CA) and software programs from Accelrys Software Inc. with graphical displays
generated by the Discovery Studio Visualizer. Where protein structures have been
downloaded from the RCSB Protein Data Bank the full references and PDB IDs
havebeengiven.IwishtoacknowledgetheuseoftheChemicalDatabaseService
atDaresburyforaccesstoothercrystalstructures.Again,fullprimarysourcescan
befoundinthereferences.
I would like to thank the University of Brighton for the award of a University
ResearchSabbaticalduringthesummerof2009.
Finally, thanks to Margaret, Alex and James for their understanding while I
workedonthisbook.
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