Cyclodextrin-Based [1]Rotaxanes on Gold Nanoparticles

• Main Authors: Yanli Zhao, Liangliang Zhu, Hong Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: azobenzene; complexation; cyclodextrin; gold nanoparticle; [1]rotaxane
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/8/10132

Transformation of mechanically interlocked molecules (e.g., rotaxanes and catenanes) into nanoscale materials or devices is an important step towards their real applications. In our current work, an azobenzene-modified β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivative that can form a self-inclusion complex in aqueous solution was prepared. The self-included β-CD derivative was then functionalized onto a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) surface via a ligand-exchange reaction in aqueous solution, leading to the formation of AuNP-[1]rotaxane hybrids. Corresponding non-self-included β-CD derivative functionalized AuNPs were also developed in a DMF/H<sub>2</sub>O mixture solution for control experiments. These hybrids were fully characterized by UV-vis and circular dichroism spectroscopies, together with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The competitive binding behavior of the hybrids with an adamantane dimer was investigated.