Supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles as aqueous pollutant scavengers.

We present a series of supramolecular self-associated amphiphiles, which spontaneously self-assemble into aggregated species. These aggregates are shown to absorb a variety of (polar) micropollutants from aqueous mixtures and as a result we determine the suitability for this technology to be developed further as aqueous environmental clean-up agents.

Supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles (SSAs) as enhancers of antimicrobial agents towards ().

Supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles (SSAs) are a class of amphiphilic salt which have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Herein, we show that SSAs are also able to increase the efficacy of a range of currently used antimicrobial/therapeutic agents with a range of different chemical structures and modes of antimicrobial action against Gram-negative , which include: octenidine (an antiseptic); ampicillin (an antibiotic); and cisplatin (a DNA chelating agent). Additionally, we show these effects to be dependent on the order of agent addition.

Di-anionic self-associating supramolecular amphiphiles (SSAs) as antimicrobial agents against MRSA and .

Herein, we report a series of di-anionic supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles (SSAs). We elucidate the antimicrobial properties of these SSAs against both methicillin resistant and . In addition, we show this class of compound to form both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonded macrocyclic structures in the solid state.

Identification of organophosphorus simulants for the development of next-generation detection technologies.

Organophosphorus (OP) chemical warfare agents (CWAs) represent an ongoing threat but the understandable widespread prohibition of their use places limitations on the development of technologies to counter the effects of any OP CWA release. Herein, we describe new, accessible methods for the identification of appropriate molecular simulants to mimic the hydrogen bond accepting capacity of the P[double bond, length as m-dash]O moiety, common to every member of this class of CWAs. Using the predictive methodologies developed herein, we have identified OP CWA hydrogen bond acceptor simulants for soman and sarin.

Towards the Prediction of Antimicrobial Efficacy for Hydrogen Bonded, Self-Associating Amphiphiles.

Herein we report 50 structurally related supramolecular self-associating amphiphilic (SSA) salts and related compounds. These SSAs are shown to act as antimicrobial agents, active against model Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and/or Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria of clinical interest. Through a combination of solution-state, gas-phase, solid-state and in silico measurements, we determine 14 different physicochemical parameters for each of these 50 structurally related compounds.

Towards the Application of Supramolecular Self-Associating Amphiphiles as Next-Generation Delivery Vehicles.

Herein, we present a series of supramolecular self-associating amphiphilic (SSA) salts and establish the potential for these molecular constructs to act as next-generation solution-state molecular delivery vehicles. We characterise the self-association of these SSAs, both alone and when co-formulated with a variety of drug(like) competitive guest species. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies enable the observation of hydrogen-bonded self-association events in the solid state, whilst high resolution mass spectrometry confirms the presence of anionic SSA dimers in the gas-phase.

Controllable hydrogen bonded self-association for the formation of multifunctional antimicrobial materials.

SSAs are a class of supramolecular self-associating amphiphilic salt, the anionic component of which contains a covalently bound hydrogen bond donor-acceptor motif. This results in a monomeric unit which can adopt multiple hydrogen bonding modes simultaneously. Previous investigations have shown examples of SSAs to act as antimicrobial agents against clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Mono- and ditopic hydroxamate ligands towards discrete and extended network architectures.

A family of mono- and ditopic hydroxamic acids has been employed in the synthesis and structural and physical characterisation of discrete (0D) and (1- and 2-D) extended network coordination complexes. Examples of the latter include the 1-D coordination polymer {[Zn(ii)(LH)]·2MeOH} (5; LH = 2-(methylamino)phenylhydroxamic acid) and the 2-D extended network {[Cu(ii)(LH)(HO)(NO)]·HO} (5; LH = 4-amino-2-(acetoxy)phenylhydroxamic acid). The 12-MC-4 metallacrown [Cu(ii)(LH)(MeOH)(NO)]·3HO·4MeOH (7) represents the first metal complex constructed using the novel ligand N-hydroxy-2-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)amino]benzamide (LH).

A symbiotic supramolecular approach to the design of novel amphiphiles with antibacterial properties against MSRA.

Herein, we identify supramolecular self-associating amphiphiles (SSAs) as a novel class of antibacterials with activity towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Structure-activity relationships have been identified in the solid, solution and gas phases. Finally, we show that when supplied in combination, SSAs exhibit increased antibacterial efficacy against these clinically relevant microbes.