Dynamics and function of supramolecular transport molecules

Development of reversible CO2-switchable supramolecular aggregates to control localization of oligosaccharide ligands

The project will involve the synthesis of CO₂-switchable molecules and characterization of their supramolecular aggregation. Primary amine groups can react with free CO₂ and form a carbamate group. This reaction will lead from a cationic species (amine) to a negatively charged species (carbamate) and can therefore be used to control aggregation e.g. with polyanions or polycations by controlling the CO₂ concentration. Here we want to use this controlled aggregation behavior to form multivalent structure presenting oligosaccharide ligands that can bind to lectin receptors, a process important in the human immune system. In order to investigate the influence of the spatial arrangement, density and spacing of the ligands onto the resulting binding affinity to the receptor, different scaffolds will be used to organize the CO₂-switchable patches carrying the oligosaccharide ligand. Both, the aggregation behavior and the binding constants, will be determined using different in vitro techniques such as SPR, fluorescence microscopy and different cell assays.  

Pseudopolymorphisms in halogens and pseudohalogens as the key to understanding weak intermolecular interactions