Multifunctional Supramolecular Gels with Strong Mechanical Properties Formed by Self-Assembly of Polyoxometalate-Based Coordination Polymers.

Metallogels built in a bottom-up approach by metal coordination and supramolecular interactions have important potential for the elaboration of smart materials. In this context, we present here the formation of supramolecular coordination polymers driven by the complexation of cobalt(II) or zinc(II) ions with polyoxometalate-based hybrids displaying two terpyridine ligands in a linear arrangement. Thanks to the electrostatic interactions between the polyoxometalate cores and metal nodes, the polymer chains self-assemble into fibers that physically cross-link to form gels above a critical concentration.

Single polyoxometalate-based nanoclusters characterized by infrared absorption nanospectroscopy.

Bottom-up engineering is a very attractive field. However, the periodic organization of molecules on a solid substrate is challenging, particularly in the selection of the appropriate characterization technique which is suitable for both large area and accurate analysis at the nanoscale. Here, this study demonstrates the unambiguous identification of complex molecular layers by infrared absorption microscopy at the nanometric scale.

Virus-Shaped Mesoporous Silica Nanostars to Improve the Transport of Drugs across the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Conditions affecting the brain are the second leading cause of death globally. One of the main challenges for drugs targeting brain diseases is passing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, the effectiveness of mesoporous silica nanostars (MSiNSs) with two different spike lengths to cross an BBB multicellular model was evaluated and compared to spherical nanoparticles (MSiNP).