Adaptive self-assembly of coordination nanoparticles formed in aqueous media and their functions

Amorphous nanoparticles of coordination polymer networks are spontaneously self-assembled from nucleotides and lanthanide ions in water. They show intrinsic functions such as energy transfer from nucleobase to lanthanide ions and excellent performance as contrast enhancing agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, adaptive inclusion properties are observed in the self-assembly process: functional materials such as dye molecules, inorganic nanoparticles, and proteins are facilely encapsulated. Photoluminescence dyes confined in the coordination nanoparticles are conformationally restricted and surprisingly stable against molecular oxygen. Incorporation of quantum dots (QDs) in the coordination networks provides photoluminescent core-shell nanoparticles. The binding of proteins to the coordination networks provides a new approach in the protein immobilization. Incorporation of glucose oxidase (GOD) and horse radish peroxidase (POD) provides coordination nanoparticles that exhibit their enzymatic activity. The concept of adaptive self-assembly will be extended to a wide range of molecular self-assembling systems and would exert significant influences in nanomaterials science.