Release of proteins and enzymes from vesicular compartments by alternating magnetic fields.

The magnetic release of catalytically active enzymes from vesicular compartments within aggregated nanomaterials has been demonstrated. These nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticle-vesicle aggregates (MNPVs), were formed by the self-assembly of biotinylated silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, biotinylated vesicles and tetrameric avidin. The unique features of nanoscale magnetite allow adhesion between membranes to be combined with magnetically triggered transit of reagents across membranes.

Fructose controlled ionophoric activity of a cholate-boronic acid.

Wulff-type boronic acids have been shown to act as ionophores at pH 8.2 by transporting Na(+) through phospholipid bilayers. A cholate-boronic acid conjugate was synthesised and shown to be an ionophore, although the hydroxyl-lined face of the cholate moiety did not enhance ion transport.

Influence of the solvent and metal center on supramolecular chirality induction with bisporphyrin tweezer receptors. Strong metal modulation of effective molarity values.

We describe the synthesis of a bisporphyrin tweezer receptor 1·H(4) and its metalation with Zn(II) and Rh(III) cations. We report the thermodynamic characterization of the supramolecular chirality induction process that takes place when the metalated bisporphyrin receptors coordinate to enantiopure 1,2-diaminocyclohexane in two different solvents, toluene and dichloromethane. We also performed a thorough study of several simpler systems that were used as models for the thermodynamic characterization of the more complex bisporphyrin systems.

Supramolecular inclusion complexes of two cyclic zinc bisporphyrins with C60 and C70: structural, thermodynamic, and photophysical characterization.

The formation of thermodynamically stable inclusion complexes between two cyclic zinc bisporphyrins, differing in the saturation degree of the hydrocarbon linkers that connect their porphyrin units, and the fullerenes C(60) and C(70) is described. Binding and photophysical studies were performed in two solvents of very different polarity: toluene and dichloromethane. UV/Vis and fluorescence titration experiments showed π-π interactions between the cyclic zinc bisporphyrins and the fullerenes.

Experimental test of curvature-driven dynamics in the phase ordering of a two dimensional liquid crystal.

We study electric field driven deracemization in an achiral liquid crystal through the formation and coarsening of chiral domains. It is proposed that deracemization in this system is a curvature-driven process. We test this prediction using the recently obtained exact result for the distribution of hull-enclosed areas in two-dimensional coarsening with nonconserved scalar order parameter dynamics [J.

TTF-based bent-core liquid crystals.

The synthesis and characterization of bent-core liquid crystals which incorporate TTF groups is reported; different bent-core mesophases are induced depending on the molecular structure and properties derived from their compact packing have been studied.