Supramolecular nanoscale systems based on amphiphilic tetramethylensulfonatocalix[4]resorcinarenes and cationic polyelectrolyte with controlled guest molecule binding

Abstract

<p>The water-soluble tetramethylensulfonatocalix[4]resorcinarene with methyl (<b>C1</b>) and pentyl (<b>C5</b>) substitutes on the lower rim forms colloid nanoscale aggregates with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (<b>PDDA</b>) in aqueous solutions. The size and stability of nanoparticles depend on concentrations of the components and their ratio in the ‘calixarene-polymer’ system. Ternary supramolecular complexes «polymer–macrocycle–guest molecule L-tryptophan (<b>Trp</b>) in conditions of spontaneous pH (3.80 and 4.78 for <b>C1-PDDA</b> and <b>C5-PDDA</b> systems, respectively) in an aqueous solution and in phosphate buffer (pH 7) were investigated by fluorescence method. The addition of the third component – <b>PDDA –</b> to the «non-aggregated <b>C1</b>–<b>Trp</b>» associates leads to the release of <b>Trp</b> in all studied conditions. The possibility of the «binding–release» process of L-tryptophan in «<b>C5</b>–<b>Trp</b>» associates after <b>PDDA</b> addition in the ternary complex is achieved and controlled by the structure of the macrocyclic self-associates and pH conditions.</p