NOAH SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVE

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The main scientific objectives (SO) of NOAH will focus on:

(SO.1). The synthesis of functional molecular containers based on different approaches (i.e. hydrogen-bond, dynamic covalent bonds, covalent bonds, and metal coordination bonds) and using a wide variety of building blocks (i.e. calixpyrrole, calixarene, porphyrin, arene ruthenium complexes, naphthalene derivatives, aromatic multidentate ligands, etc.).

(SO.2). The decoration of molecular containers with pendant ionisable groups or biomimetic motifs (e.g. peptides, pegylated chains), which will equip them with valuable additional features (i.e. water solubility, chiral environment, biocompatibility) for biochemical applications such as drug encapsulation, transport through cell membranes and drug delivery.

(SO.3). Equipping containers and/or guests with switchable functionalities (e.g. azo, spiropyran or hemithioindigo groups, protonable zwitterionic or redox groups, imine bonds etc.) that are addressable and responsive to external stimuli (e.g. light, electrons, pH, moisture, etc.) to gain control of the host-guest binding properties of the container and its assembly/disassembly processes.

(SO.4). The development of new tools and processes for the characterisation of supramolecular host/guest assemblies, their photo/electro induced functions and encapsulation processes (e.g. thermodynamic and kinetic characterisation of non-covalent interactions, studies of encapsulation complexes in the gas phase, molecular modelling and virtual screening of potential relevant guests, etc.)

(SO.5). Identifying and developing new applications of stimuli-responsive functional molecular containers, including their use in the formulation of new adhesives and coatings (catalysts encapsulation), in drug encapsulation and delivery (e.g. encapsulating relevant molecules in order to increase uptake in the body to the encapsulation of compounds for photodynamic therapy) or as recyclable systems for their application as vectors for controlled cell growth for skin regeneration (e.g. by supporting organic molecular containers into nanofibers ).

NOAH RESEARCH WORK PACKAGES

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The NOAH research program has materialized into 5 Research Work Packages (WP1–WP5). Each Research WP contains a series of individual projects with specific objectives that can be grouped in three categories: Synthesis, Characterisation, and Applications covering all the previously depicted scientific objectives of NOAH SO.1–SO.5. In addition to the research work packages, we include three network-wide WPs (WP6–WP8) related to training activities in complementary skills and soft-skills, the dissemination, exploitation and communication of the obtained scientific results, and the overall management of the network.

Christopher G. P. Taylor, Stephen P. Argent, Michael D. Ludden, Jerico R. Piper, Cristina Mozaceanu, Sarah A. Barnett, Michael D. Ward “One guest or two? A crystallographic and solution study of guest binding in a cubic coordination cage” Chem. Eur. J. 2020. doi: 10.1002/chem.201905499. pdf

Cristina Mozaceanu, Christopher G. P. Taylor, Jerico R. Piper, Stephen P. Argent, Michael D. Ward “Catalysis of an Aldol Condensation Using a Coordination Cage” Chemistry, 2020, 2(1), 22-32. pdf