Redox-Regulated Fusion and Fission of Se/Te-Containing Polymer Assemblies for Compartmentalized Reactions

Abstract

The fusion and fission of cellular membranes are fundamental dynamic processes in living systems, the precise regulation of which largely depends on the redox microenvironment. Constructing biomimetic model systems capable of reversible regulation under mild conditions is of great significance for understanding membrane dynamics. In this work, a class of amphiphilic block copolymers containing selenium/tellurium (Se/Te) motifs was designed and synthesized, which can self-assemble in aqueous solution into stable nanostructures. Under oxidative conditions, tellurium sites form Te–O–Te covalent crosslinks, driving inter-assembly connections and hierarchical structural evolution; in contrast, under reductive conditions, these crosslinks can be cleaved, allowing the system to revert to its initial dispersed state and exhibiting excellent reversibility. Furthermore, a fluorescence “turn-on” compartmentalized reaction model demonstrates that oxidative stimuli enable inter-compartmental substrate mixing and trigger the reaction. This work establishes a redox-controllable dynamic assembly system that recapitulates key features of redox-regulated membrane fusion and fission, providing a biomimetic platform for understanding membrane dynamics and a molecular design strategy for constructing adaptive compartmentalized reaction systems.