Self-organized nanotube materials and their application in bioengineering

Abstract

Although a large number of studies on organic nanotubes have focused on the molecular design of building blocks and their material function, there has been little research that has addressed the function of the nanochannels themselves, such as their encapsulation ability. The dimensions of self-assembled organic nanotubes (S-ONTs) are well compatible with those of diverse nanostructures, including proteins, organic, inorganic or metal nanoparticles, dendrimers, viruses and DNAs. S-ONTs can give rise to a novel research field of mesoscale host–guest science and engineering. More interestingly, S-ONTs can accommodate extremely small liquid volumes on the order of attoliters in their nanochannels. Focusing on the distinctive function and structural characteristics of these nanochannels, herein we describe the recent progress in research on the unique properties of nanochannels that can encapsulate, transport and release biomacromolecules as well as exert a confinement effect on water.