Perceptions and Misconceptions in Molecular Recognition: Key Factors in Self-Assembling Multivalent (SAMul) Ligands/Polyanions Selectivity
Domenico Marson,
Erik Laurini,
Suzana Aulic,
Maurizio Fermeglia,
Sabrina Pricl
Affiliations
Domenico Marson
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Erik Laurini
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Suzana Aulic
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Maurizio Fermeglia
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Sabrina Pricl
Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Biology is dominated by polyanions (cell membranes, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides just to name a few), and achieving selective recognition between biological polyanions and synthetic systems currently constitutes a major challenge in many biomedical applications, nanovectors-assisted gene delivery being a prime example. This review work summarizes some of our recent efforts in this field; in particular, by using a combined experimental/computation approach, we investigated in detail some critical aspects in self-assembled nanomicelles and two major polyanions—DNA and heparin.
