Issue 4, 2019

Red-light-responsive molecular encapsulation in water: an ideal combination of photochemistry and host–guest interaction

Abstract

A major limitation in the application of light-responsive host–guest complex-based photoresponsive materials in living organisms is the lack of reliable photocontrollable recognition motifs activated beyond UV light, especially by the light within a biological window (650–1450 nm). Herein, we present long wavelength light-responsive cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-mediated binary host–guest complexes, in which the encapsulated photoisomerizable azobenzene-derived guests exhibit high EZ photoisomerization ratios upon irradiation of yellow (>500 nm) or red (650 nm) lights. The non-irradiated binary host–guest complexes can further serve as supramolecular nanocontainers to uptake second guests (e.g., selected drug molecules). Moreover, “on command” release of the non-photoactive molecular cargos can be triggered by irradiating the resulting CB[8]-mediated heteroternary host–guest complexes with yellow or red lights. Due to activation within the biological window with high photoisomerization ratio, the specific red-light-responsive CB[8]-mediated heteroternary host–guest complexation is expected to be a promising tool in the extensive applications of photopharmacotherapy, drug delivery and biocompatible dynamic materials.

Graphical abstract: Red-light-responsive molecular encapsulation in water: an ideal combination of photochemistry and host–guest interaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
25 10 2018
Accepted
21 11 2018
First published
22 11 2018

Org. Chem. Front., 2019,6, 498-505

Red-light-responsive molecular encapsulation in water: an ideal combination of photochemistry and host–guest interaction

J. Wei, T. Jin, Y. Yin, X. Jiang, S. Zheng, T. Zhan, J. Cui, L. Liu, L. Kong and K. Zhang, Org. Chem. Front., 2019, 6, 498 DOI: 10.1039/C8QO01157E

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