(Press-News.org)
Controlling the topology and structure of entangled molecular strands is a key challenge in molecular engineering, particularly when attempting to create large nanostructures that mimic biological systems. Examples found in nature, such as virus capsids and cargo proteins, demonstrate the remarkable potential of such architectures. However, methods for constructing large hollow nanostructures with precise geometric control have remained elusive—until now.
In a recent study, a research team led by Associate Professor Tomohisa Sawada from Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, has successfully constructed a molecular spherical shell structure with the geometric topology of a regular dodecahedron. This groundbreaking work, which was published online in the journal Chem on May 01, 2025, describes how the researchers created this large structure, bearing an outer diameter of 6.3 nanometers, through the entanglement of peptides with metal ions.
“The synthesis of this highly complex structure was based on geometric considerations and predictions, leading to the proposal of a new concept: the geometric control of chemical structures,” explains Sawada. The team’s approach combined two distinct mathematical frameworks, namely knot theory and graph theory, to predict and then achieve the self-assembly of an unprecedented dodecahedral link with an entanglement of 60 crossings, composed of 60 metal ions and 60 peptide ligands (or M60L60).
The researchers had previously created smaller structures with tetrahedral and cubic links. However, a more complex dodecahedral link emerged after they introduced further modifications to the peptide sequence during attempts to functionalize M24L24, a smaller cubic link. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the resulting M60L60 metal-peptide shell contains an inner cavity of approximately 4.0 nanometers (approximately 34,000 ų), which is large enough to encapsulate macromolecules such as proteins or nanomaterials.
Beyond its impressive structural complexity, the M60L60 shell exhibited remarkable stability against heat, dilution, and oxidative conditions, which the researchers attributed to its unique entangled network structure. Interestingly, the team also demonstrated that the capsid’s surface could be modified with various functional groups while maintaining its structural integrity, opening pathways for customization based on specific needs.
These features make M60L60 a promising platform for various applications, including drug delivery systems and molecular transportation. “Considering the diversity and modifiability of peptide structures, our method is overwhelmingly advantageous compared to DNA origami technology in terms of functionalizing structures,” highlights Sawada. “Moreover, since our approach involves theoretical prediction and trial-and-error experiments, sometimes astonishing structures far beyond our expectations are obtained—this is the essence of chemistry.”
Overall, this research represents a significant step forward in understanding how to construct artificial virus capsid-like structures. “Our findings significantly expand the foundation of peptide engineering and are anticipated to have immense effects across various fields, including molecular self-assembly, materials chemistry, and mathematical theories,” concludes Sawada. The researchers are now aiming for even more ambitious structures, envisioning M180L180 and M240L240 assemblies with 180 and 240 crossings, respectively, as their next challenges.
***
About Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo)
Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) was established on October 1, 2024, following the merger between Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), with the mission of “Advancing science and human well-being to create value for and with society.”
END
Pregnant women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have an increased risk of giving birth prematurely and the risk increase cannot be explained by obesity, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal eClinicalMedicine.
It is estimated that one in five people in Sweden has MASLD, previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and globally it may be as many as three out of ten. Common risk factors are metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The disease has become increasingly common, including among women of reproductive age. Researchers have now ...
The team led by Prof. Thomas F. Fässler from the Chair of Inorganic Chemistry with a Focus on Novel Materials partially replaced lithium in a lithium antimonide compound with the metal scandium. This creates specific gaps, so-called vacancies, in the crystal lattice of the conductor material. These gaps help the lithium ions to move more easily and faster, resulting in a new world record for ion conductivity.
Since the measured conductivity far exceeded that of existing materials, the team collaborated with the Chair of Technical Electrochemistry under Prof. Hubert Gasteiger at TUM to confirm the result. Co-author Tobias Kutsch who conducted the validation tests, commented: “Because ...
What do a millennia-old human from the Black Sea region and modern HIV medicine have in common?
Quite a lot, it turns out, according to new research from the University of Copenhagen.
18-25 percent of the Danish population carries a genetic mutation that can make them resistant or even immune to HIV. This knowledge is used to develop modern treatments for the virus.
Until now, it was unknown where, when, or why the mutation occurred. But by using advanced DNA technology, researchers have now solved this genetic mystery.
“It turns out that the variant arose in one ...
A research team led by Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku and Dr. Seo Gyun Kim of the Carbon Composite Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Professor Yuanzhe Piao of Seoul National University (SNU) has developed a high-performance supercapacitor that is expected to become the next generation of energy storage devices. The technology developed by the researchers overcomes the limitations of existing supercapacitors by utilizing an innovative fiber structure composed of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the conductive ...
Researchers have developed two unique energy-efficient and cost-effective systems that use urea found in urine and wastewater to generate hydrogen.
The unique systems reveal new pathways to economically generate ‘green’ hydrogen, a sustainable and renewable energy source, and the potential to remediate nitrogenous waste in aquatic environments.
Typically, hydrogen is generated through the use of electrolysis to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. It is a promising technology to help address ...
High-resolution optical spectroscopy is an essential tool in quantum optics, chemical reaction analysis, and precision metrology, as it enables detailed investigation of quantum states, energy levels, spin states, and vibrational modes in atoms and molecules. However, conventional diffraction grating-based spectrometers are limited by their large and complex optical configurations and face fundamental challenges in achieving sub-MHz spectral resolution. As an alternative, direct frequency comb spectroscopy (DFCS) based on frequency combs has gained attention due to its potential for compact, high-resolution spectral ...
A single blood test, designed to pick up chemical signals indicative of the presence of many different types of cancer, could potentially thwart progression to advanced disease while the malignancy is still at an early stage and amenable to treatment in up to half of cases, suggests a modelling study published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
Incorporating the test, formally known as a multi-cancer early detection test, or MCED for short, either yearly or biennially, could therefore improve outcomes for patients by intercepting disease progression, ...
Women’ are around 50% more likely than men to develop COPD, the umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema and bronchitis, even if they have never smoked or smoked much less than their male counterparts, suggests observational research, published in the open access journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.
The findings challenge the widely held belief that women’s increased vulnerability to cigarette smoke likely explains this disparity, conclude the researchers.
Smoking is the principal cause of COPD. But despite significant falls in cigarette smoking over the past 50 years, it remains a leading cause of death in the USA, with the ...
Eyes may be the window to the soul, but a person’s biological age could be reflected in their facial characteristics. Investigators from Mass General Brigham developed a deep learning algorithm called FaceAge that uses a photo of a person’s face to predict biological age and survival outcomes for patients with cancer. They found that patients with cancer, on average, had a higher FaceAge than those without and appeared about five years older than their chronological age. Older FaceAge predictions were ...
The North Korean government engages in unsustainable and illegal wildlife trade, which includes species protected under its own laws and poses a threat to biodiversity recovery in the region, finds a groundbreaking new study by UCL researchers.
The report, published in Biological Conservation, found that although North Korea has a regulatory system of protected areas and protected species, these are regularly breached by people hunting and trapping wild animals for personal consumption or black market trade, either domestically or for sale to buyers in China.
Additionally, the North Korean state itself is implicated in, and actively profiting from, harvesting and trade of endangered ...
