【大师讲坛】第188期:Supramolecular Chemistry for the Real World– Molecular Devices with Medical Applications
Supramolecular Chemistry may be defined as “the design and synthesis of functional molecules”. As the subject matures, it becomes increasingly important that these functions should be genuinely useful. Opportunities exist in medicine, but the precision required and the complexity of biological media raise major challenges. This lecture will discuss two areas where discoveries with real potential have been made. The first is the design of synthetic receptors for carbohydrates, especially glucose, an important target in the context of diabetes. Research in this field has led to a system with remarkable properties, potentially enabling developments such as glucose-responsive insulin. The second is the transport of anions across cell membranes by synthetic carriers, where high activities have been demonstrated and medical applications are under active investigation. Results in both areas suggest that the rational design of functional molecules can open new avenues in medicinal chemistry, complementing the standard paradigm of lock-and-key binding to macromolecular targets.
Professor Anthony P. Davis
英国皇家化学会会士、国际著名超分子化学家