Life-inspired Supramolecular Chemistry

In living cells, cytoskeletons such as actin filaments and microtubules self-assemble without mixing  (self-sorting), and the orthogonal supramolecular fibers can function their biological roles without interference with each other. Inspired by excellent biological examples, we try to develop supramolecular double-network (SDN) hydrogels comprising orthogonal self-sorted nanofibers. SDN hydrogels become suitable scaffolds for rational integration of multiple stimulus responses, leading to practical applications including control drug release.

Representative publications

1. Nature Commun. 14, 1696 (2023).
2. Nature Commun. 11, 4100 (2020).
3. Nature Commun. 11, 3959 (2020).
4. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141, 4997–5004 (2019).
5. Nature Nanotechnol. 13, 165–172 (2018).
6. Nature Chem. 8, 743–752 (2016).

In life system, biological machines function under the non- (or out-of-) equilibrium state. I'm interested in unusual phenomena and functions that appear in the transient state (or out-of-equilibrium state) of supramolecular self-assembly. To date, I reported unusual, transient guest recognition in a porous framework material. I will report other transient system of supramolecular chemistry.

Representative publications

1. J. Am. Chem. Soc. Accepted
2. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 15155–15164 (2022).
3. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 19532–19541 (2021).
4. Nature Commun. 11, 3541 (2020).
5. Nature Chem. 6, 913–918 (2014).

Membrane receptor proteins such as ion-channels and GPCRs play important roles in cellular signal transduction and in pathological events. Therefore, elucidation of receptor functions through selective activation and/or inhibition is essential to understand biological phenomena occurred in live cells and animals. We have developed chemogenetic methods to artificially control the receptor functions using supramolecular chemistry, called on-cell coordination chemistry and coordination tethering.

Representative publications

1. ACS Central Science  4, 1211–1221 (2018). 
2. Nature Chem. 8, 958-967 (2016).