Final Report Summary - MOLECULAR MOTORS (Molecular Motors - Controlling movement at the nanoscale)
In molecular nanotechnology and supramolecular chemistry, control of dynamics, i.e. translational and rotational motion, is one of the most fundamental problems and challenging goals. Inspiration for this research is taken both from nature, where molecular motors are integral to nearly every key biological process, as well as daily life were motors and machines are ubiquitous. This project builds on the research in the Feringa group on molecular switches which cumulated in the discovery of the first light-driven unidirectional rotary motor.
The most important achievement in the current project is the coupling of rotary to translational motion by the design of the molecular car which allowed the demonstration of autonomous and directional movement at the nanoscale over a surface. An important advance was also the move from solution to surfaces via the self-assembly of monolayers of molecular motors on gold or covalent attachment to quartz constructing a “nanoscale windmill park” powered by light. It was shown that unidirectional rotation on a surface can be accomplished including control of orientation (azimuthal or altitudinal). Important was the control of rotary motion from hours to nanoseconds through adapting the molecular design of rotary motors and the ability to reverse directionality of motion. The use of rotary molecular motors allows the dynamic control of a variety of functions and materials properties. For instance it was shown that surface wettability, magnetic interactions, self-assembly and chiral catalytic functions can be reversibly modulated through molecular motors.
Responsive materials and functional molecular systems were designed by incorporating light and redox switches. This enabled among others the control of transport through a hybrid membrane protein channel by light. The non-invasive control of biological function with high spatial-temporal precision was also explored in a photo-pharmacological approach to antibiotics. In an innovative way to tackle the problems associated with antibiotic resistance on-off switching of antibiotic activity with light was achieved. Further applications of photo-switches developed in this program include responsive gels and photo-and redox active materials for information storage and electronics.
The most important achievement in the current project is the coupling of rotary to translational motion by the design of the molecular car which allowed the demonstration of autonomous and directional movement at the nanoscale over a surface. An important advance was also the move from solution to surfaces via the self-assembly of monolayers of molecular motors on gold or covalent attachment to quartz constructing a “nanoscale windmill park” powered by light. It was shown that unidirectional rotation on a surface can be accomplished including control of orientation (azimuthal or altitudinal). Important was the control of rotary motion from hours to nanoseconds through adapting the molecular design of rotary motors and the ability to reverse directionality of motion. The use of rotary molecular motors allows the dynamic control of a variety of functions and materials properties. For instance it was shown that surface wettability, magnetic interactions, self-assembly and chiral catalytic functions can be reversibly modulated through molecular motors.
Responsive materials and functional molecular systems were designed by incorporating light and redox switches. This enabled among others the control of transport through a hybrid membrane protein channel by light. The non-invasive control of biological function with high spatial-temporal precision was also explored in a photo-pharmacological approach to antibiotics. In an innovative way to tackle the problems associated with antibiotic resistance on-off switching of antibiotic activity with light was achieved. Further applications of photo-switches developed in this program include responsive gels and photo-and redox active materials for information storage and electronics.