Spontaneous self-assembly of water-soluble nucleotide-calixarene conjugates in small micelles coalescing to microspheres

Langmuir. 2008 Jun 17;24(12):6194-200. doi: 10.1021/la800286p. Epub 2008 May 23.

Abstract

Spontaneous self-assembly of calix[4]arenes bearing four 2'-deoxythymidine or 2'-deoxyadenosine nucleotide pendants is investigated using (1)H NMR, exchange NMR, and diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopies and dynamic light scattering. In aqueous medium, the nucleotide-calixarene conjugates, by noncovalent interactions involving both nucleobases and calixarene skeleton, form dimers which self-organize in micelles by increasing the concentration. Microscopic images (scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) show that the nucleobase affects the aggregate morphology in the solid state.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Calixarenes / chemistry*
  • DNA Replication
  • Dimerization
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Micelles*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microspheres*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nucleotides / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Solubility
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Micelles
  • Nucleotides
  • Water
  • Calixarenes