First Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of a Seco‐Triterpenoid α‐Onocerin Yielding Supramolecular Architectures

Abstract

AbstractSpontaneous hierarchical self‐assembly of natural products yielding supramolecular architectures of nano to micrometer dimensions has been in the forefront of research during the last decade because such studies aim at the development of a sustainable society. α‐onocerin 1, a naturally occurring C2 symmetric dihydroxy seco‐tetracyclic triterpenoid, is extractable from the fresh aerial part of Lycopodium clavatum. Herein we report the first self‐assembly property of α‐onocerin in different liquids. The molecule spontaneously self‐assembled in the liquids, yielding flower‐like architectures of nano to micrometer diameters via the formation of fibrillar networks. The self‐assemblies have been characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, FTIR and X‐Ray diffraction studies. The porous microstructure of the self‐assemblies has been utilized for the entrapment of fluorophores such as rhodamine‐B (Rho‐B), carboxy fluorescein (CF) and the anticancer drug doxorubicin. Release of the entrapped fluorophores including the anticancer drug has also been demonstrated spectrophotometrically.