Aggregation of Amphiphiles as a Tool to Create Novel Functional Nano-Objects

Nature often uses the self-assembly of amphiphilic building blocks as a tool for the structuring of matter. The most representative example of the functionality that can be achieved through the interplay between different, structurally simple, monomeric units is the cell membrane.^1,2 In this natural supramolecular structure, the organization is achieved by the self-assembly of different types of individual functional molecules (phospholipids, glycolipids, glycoproteins, membrane spanning peptide helices, the cytoskeleton, etc). The resulting cell membrane combines functionality, compartmentalization, order and mobility, characteristics all essential for life. The realization of the importance of self-assembly in Nature has led scientists to extensively explore its basic principles in the last decades. The designed self-assembly of individual molecules has led to macromolecular structures of one, two or three-dimensional nature. These supramolecular structures can contain between 10¹ and 10⁵ molecules and thus resemble synthetic and biological polymers in molecular mass. As G. M. Whitesides stated; “Nature's mechanisms are much more complex and much more highly evolved than the self-assembly currently used in laboratories. The ultimate goal is to look at these mechanisms, abstract the principles from them, and then embed those principles in non-biological systems to make functional, very sophisticated small machines.” Though significant progress has been achieved, it still is a challenge to try to understand in full detail the principles that govern the self-organization of individual molecules leading to the formation of nanometer sized assemblies, and furthermore to be able to manipulate these nanometer scale functionalities and enhance their properties.