Practical applications of supramolecular chemistry

Abstract

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Charles Pedersen's discovery of crown ethers, what is widely considered the birth of supramolecular chemistry. Since then, the field has progressed greatly, winning two Nobel Prizes and seeing the implementation of many practical applications. In commemoration, we are exploring the more recent advances of the field, which have made it past the realm of chemistry, into the real world. Though not a comprehensive review, the topics that we discuss here are supramolecular sensors, imaging for medical applications, metal extraction from ores and nuclear waste, as well as drug delivery.