Supramolecular Capsules with Gated Pores from an Amphiphilic Rod Assembly

Abstract

Please release me: Dumbbell-shaped rod amphiphiles self-assemble into hollow spheres (see picture) with gated nanopores in the shell. These pores undergo reversible transitions from the open state to the closed state upon heating, and are capable of entrapping the cargos with preservation of their hollow spherical structure, in a manner similar to viral capsids.