Dynamic G-quadruplex supramolecular hydrogels have aroused great interest in a broad range of bioapplications. However, neither the development of native extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived natural biopolymer-functionalized G-quadruplex hydrogels nor their use to create perfusable self-supporting hydrogels has been explored to date, despite their intrinsic potential as carrier vehicles of therapeutic agents, or ...
The interaction of the self-assembled trinuclear ruthenium bowl 13+ , that displays three other accessible oxidation states, with oxo-anions is investigated. Using a combination of NMR and electrochemical experimental data, estimates of the binding affinities of 14+ , 15+ , and 16+ for both halide and oxo-anions were derived. This analysis revealed that, across the range of oxidation states of the host, both hi...
Chalcogen bonding (ChB) is rapidly rising to prominence in supramolecular chemistry as a powerful sigma (σ)-hole-based noncovalent interaction, especially for applications in the field of molecular recognition. Recent studies have demonstrated ChB donor strength and potency to be remarkably sensitive to local electronic environments, including redox-switchable on/off anion binding and sensing capability. Influe...
Using the chemical versatility of the benzo[b]thiophene motif, an extensive library of 24 (thio)urea receptors, with different binding properties and lipophilicities, was prepared and included α,α-, α,β-, β,β-, β,γ-, α,γ-, and γ,γ-benzo[b]thiophene positional isomers, as well as β- or γ-benzo[b]thiophene-based molecules decorated with aliphatic chains or aryl moieties with different fluorination degrees. 1H NMR...
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) plays a crucial signalling role in a variety of physiological systems, existing as the hydrosulfide anion (HS⁻) at physiological pH. Combining the potency of halogen bonding (XB) for anion recognition in water with coumarin fluorophore incorporation in acyclic host structural design, the first XB receptors to bind and, more importantly, sense the hydrosulfide anion in pure water in a reve...
Synthetic anion transporters can be developed using anion receptors that are able to bind the anion and stabilize it in the lipophilic interior of a bilayer membrane, and they usually contain functional groups with acidic NHs, such as ureas, thioureas and squaramides. To assess the suitability of acylhydrazones as a new functional group for the preparation of anion transporters, we have studied a family of thio...
Estrogen-like metabolites have been identified in S. haematobium, the helminth parasite that causes urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) and in patients´ blood and urine during UGS. Estrogen receptor (ER) activation is enriched in the luminal molecular subtype bladder cancer (BlaCa). To date, the significance of ER to these diseases remains elusive. We evaluated ERα and ERβ expression in UGS-related BlaCa (n = 27),...
Estrogen-like metabolites have been identified in S. haematobium, the helminth parasite that causes urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) and in patients´ blood and urine during UGS. Estrogen receptor (ER) activation is enriched in the luminal molecular subtype bladder cancer (BlaCa). To date, the significance of ER to these diseases remains elusive. We evaluated ERα and ERβ expression in UGS-related BlaCa (n = 27),...
The hexadentate ligand, 2,2′-bis(salicylideneamino)azobenzene, 1 has been synthesized from 2,2′-diaminoazobenzene and salicylaldehyde in refluxing diethyl ether. Reaction of ligand 1 with Cu(II) acetate and Cu(II) perchlorate separately in methanol afforded tetradentate (N,N,N,O) Cu(II) complexes, Cu(L) & [Cu(HL)]ClO4 respectively [where H2L represent the one imine moiety cleavage product of ligand 1 (H represe...
The transmembrane anion transport activity of a series of synthetic molecules inspired by the structure of tambjamine alkaloids can be tuned by varying the lipophilicity of the receptor, with carriers within a certain log P range performing best.