Dissipative Self‐Assembly of Photoluminescent Silicon Nanocrystals

Solutions of silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) are used in a diverse range of applications because of their tunable photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and the abundance of Si. In dissipative supramolecular materials, self‐assembly of molecules or nanoparticles is driven by a chemical reaction network t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018-10, Vol.57 (44), p.14608-14612
Main Authors: Grötsch, Raphael K., Angı, Arzu, Mideksa, Yonatan G., Wanzke, Caren, Tena‐Solsona, Marta, Feige, Matthias J., Rieger, Bernhard, Boekhoven, Job
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assemblies
Assembly
Biocompatibility
cellular uptake
Chemical fuels
chemical reaction network
Chemical reactions
Crystals
Dismantling
dissipative self-assembly
Kinetics
Luminescence
Mammalian cells
Nanocrystals
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles - chemistry
non-equilibrium self-assembly
Organic chemistry
Photoluminescence
Photons
Reaction kinetics
Silicon
Silicon - chemistry
silicon nanocrystals
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Solutions of silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) are used in a diverse range of applications because of their tunable photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and the abundance of Si. In dissipative supramolecular materials, self‐assembly of molecules or nanoparticles is driven by a chemical reaction network that irreversible consumes fuel. The properties of the emerging structures are controlled by the kinetics of the underlying chemical reaction network. Herein, we demonstrate the dissipative self‐assembly of photoluminescent SiNCs driven by a chemical fuel. A chemical reaction induces self‐assembly of the water‐soluble SiNCs. However, the assemblies are transient, and when the chemical reaction network runs out of fuel, the SiNCs disassemble. The lifetime of the assemblies is controlled by the amount of fuel added. As an application of the transient supramolecular material, we demonstrate that the platform can be used to control the delayed uptake of the nanocrystals by mammalian cells. Come together: The dissipative self‐assembly of silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) is coupled to a fuel‐driven chemical reaction network, thereby enabling kinetic control over the self‐assembled structures. For example, the amount of fuel determines the lifetime of the assemblies. Using this mechanism, the uptake of SiNCs by cells could be delayed.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.201807937