DNA; supramolecular polymers; light harvesting systems; energy transfer; 2D polymers; chromophore
Jevric Jovana, Langenegger Simon M., Häner Robert (2021), Layered assembly of cationic and anionic supramolecular polymers, in
Chemical Communications, 57(54), 6648-6651.
Hart Stephanie M., Chen Wei Jia, Banal James L., Bricker William P., Dodin Amro, Markova Larysa, Vyborna Yuliia, Willard Adam P., Häner Robert, Bathe Mark, Schlau-Cohen Gabriela S. (2021), Engineering couplings for exciton transport using synthetic DNA scaffolds, in
Chem, 7(3), 752-773.
Markova Larysa, Probst Markus, Häner Robert (2020), Assembly and functionalization of supramolecular polymers from DNA-conjugated squaraine oligomers, in
RSC Advances, 10(73), 44841-44845.
Rothenbühler Simon, Iacovache Ioan, Langenegger Simon M., Zuber Benoît, Häner Robert (2020), Supramolecular assembly of DNA-constructed vesicles, in
Nanoscale, 12(41), 21118-21123.
Bürki Nutcha, Grossenbacher Elena, Cannizzo Andrea, Feurer Thomas, Langenegger Simon M., Häner Robert (2020), DNA-organized artificial LHCs – testing the limits of chromophore segmentation, in
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 18(35), 6818-6822.
Jevric Jovana, Langenegger Simon M., Häner Robert (2020), Light-Harvesting Supramolecular Polymers: Energy Transfer to Various Polyaromatic AcceptorsLight-Harvesting Supramolecular Polymers: Energy Transfer to Various Polyaromatic Acceptors, in
European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2020(30), 4677-4680.
Münich Peter W., Pfäffli Matthias, Volland Michel, Liu Shi-Xia, Häner Robert, Guldi Dirk M. (2020), Amphiphilic anthanthrene trimers that exfoliate graphite and individualize single wall carbon nanotubes, in
Nanoscale, 12(2), 956-966.
Vybornyi Mykhailo, Vyborna Yuliia, Häner Robert (2019), DNA-inspired oligomers: from oligophosphates to functional materials, in
Chemical Society Reviews, 48(16), 4347-4360.
Nazari M., Bösch C. D., Rondi A., Francés-Monerris A., Marazzi M., Lognon E., Gazzetto M., Langenegger S. M., Häner R., Feurer T., Monari A., Cannizzo A. (2019), Ultrafast dynamics in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the key case of conical intersections at higher excited states and their role in the photophysics of phenanthrene monomer, in
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21(31), 16981-16988.
Vybornyi Mykhailo, Yu Hao, Häner Robert (2019), Nano-thin 2D Soft Materials – Design Principles and Prospects, in
CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry, 73(6), 468-472.
Bösch Caroline D., Abay Elif, Langenegger Simon M., Nazari Maryam, Cannizzo Andrea, Feurer Thomas, Häner Robert (2019), DNA‐Organized Light‐Harvesting Antennae: Energy Transfer in Polyaromatic Stacks Proceeds through Interposed Nucleobase Pairs, in
Helvetica Chimica Acta, 102(8), e1900148.
Famili Marjan, Jia Chuancheng, Liu Xunshan, Wang Peiqi, Grace Iain M., Guo Jian, Liu Yuan, Feng Ziying, Wang Yiliu, Zhao Zipeng, Decurtins Silvio, Häner Robert, Huang Yu, Liu Shi-Xia, Lambert Colin J., Duan Xiangfeng (2019), Self-Assembled Molecular-Electronic Films Controlled by Room Temperature Quantum Interference, in
Chem, 5(2), 474-484.
Volland Michel, Zhou Ping, Wibmer Leonie, Häner Robert, Decurtins Silvio, Liu Shi-Xia, Guldi Dirk M. (2019), Nanographene favors electronic interactions with an electron acceptor rather than an electron donor in a planar fused push–pull conjugate, in
Nanoscale, 11(3), 1437-1441.
Kownacki Mariusz, Langenegger Simon M., Liu Shi-Xia, Häner Robert (2019), Integrating DNA Photonic Wires into Light-Harvesting Supramolecular Polymers, in
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 58(3), 751-755.
Liu Xunshan, Li Xiaohui, Sangtarash Sara, Sadeghi Hatef, Decurtins Silvio, Häner Robert, Hong Wenjing, Lambert Colin J., Liu Shi-Xia (2018), Probing Lewis acid–base interactions in single-molecule junctions, in
Nanoscale, 10(38), 18131-18134.
Bösch Caroline D., Jevric Jovana, Bürki Nutcha, Probst Markus, Langenegger Simon M., Häner Robert (2018), Supramolecular Assembly of DNA-Phenanthrene Conjugates into Vesicles with Light-Harvesting Properties, in
Bioconjugate Chemistry, 29(5), 1505-1509.
Yu Hao, Sabetti Mattia, Häner Robert (2018), Formation of Supramolecular Nanotubes by Self-assembly of a Phosphate-linked Dimeric Anthracene in Water, in
Chemistry - An Asian Journal, 13(8), 968-971.
Rothenbühler Simon, Bösch Caroline D., Langenegger Simon M., Liu Shi-Xia, Häner Robert (2018), Self-assembly of a redox-active bolaamphiphile into supramolecular vesicles, in
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 16(38), 6886-6889.
Vybornyi Mykhailo, Vyborna Yuliia, Häner Robert (2017), Silica Mineralization of DNA-Inspired 1D and 2D Supramolecular Polymers, in
ChemistryOpen, 6(4), 488-491.
Yu Hao, Alexander Duncan T. L., Aschauer Ulrich, Häner Robert (2017), Synthesis of Responsive Two-Dimensional Polymers via Self-Assembled DNA Networks, in
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(18), 5040-5044.
Vyborna Yuliia, Vybornyi Mykhailo, Häner Robert (2017), Functional DNA-grafted supramolecular polymers – chirality, cargo binding and hierarchical organization, in
Chemical Communications, 53(37), 5179-5181.
Vyborna Y., Altunbas S., Vybornyi M., Häner R. (2017), Morphological diversity of supramolecular polymers of DNA-containing oligopyrenes – formation of chiroptically active nanosheets, in
Chemical Communications, 53(89), 12128-12131.
Vyborna Yuliia, Vybornyi Mykhailo, Häner Robert (2017), Pathway Diversity in the Self-Assembly of DNA-Derived Bioconjugates, in
Bioconjugate Chemistry, 27(11), 2755-2761.
Yu Hao, Häner Robert (2017), Solution-phase synthesis of 1D tubular polymers via preorganization–polymerization, in
Chemical Communications, 52(100), 14396-14399.
The construction and study of novel types of one- and two-dimensional supramolecular polymers from short, DNA-inspired oligomers is proposed. Phosphodiester-linked aromatic oligomers (oligoarenotides) built from various polyaromatic building blocks, such as phenanthrene, pyrene or chrysene, exhibit surprising structural and functional diversity in an aqueous environment. Self-assembly leads to formation of supramolecular structures, including fibres, nanosheets and nanotubes. The resultant polychromophores will be studied for their electronic and structural properties.A major effort will be dedicated to deepen our understanding of the supramolecular polymerization of oligoarenotides. Past studies showed that the morphology of the formed supramolecular polymers is not only influenced by the aromatic residues, but, to a large extent, also by the connecting linkers. Important factors include the geometry (i.e., site of attachment to the aromatic core), the length and the chemical nature (e.g., carboxamide- vs. alkynyl-substitution). Closely related to these activities are efforts aiming at the covalent linkage of assembled oligomers, which would allow the conversion of supramolecular polymers to covalent polymers. Different strategies (photodimerization of anthracene-containing hexagonal DNA networks; disulfide formation of linear and two-dimensional supramolecular polymers) will be pursued. The construction and study of light-harvesting supramolecular polymers will also be of primary interest. We plan to extend our studies of one- and two-dimensional polymers to other types of chromophores, such as cyanines and porphyrins. Additionally, we will start to explore oligoarenotide-based supramolecular polymers as biomimetic and biocompatible materials. These efforts will include probing the interaction of polymers with cationic protein complexes, especially histones, as well as the use of silanized polymers for cellular applications (cellular imaging, in collaboration with Prof. A. Stocker at our department).Once established, synthesis of oligoarenotides and subsequent formation of supramolecular polymers comes as a series of straightforward steps. However, the underlying principles (aggregation behavior, exciton formation, energy transfer) were all established in preceding studies with DNA-assembled oligochromophores. This demonstrates the value of the DNA duplex as a supramolecular scaffold for the precise arrangement of functional compounds. Therefore, we will continue and extend our work in the area of DNA-controlled assembly of chromophores. In particular, we will continue studying the process of excitation energy transfer in DNA-assembled polychromophore systems in collaboration with Prof. T. Feurer and Prof. A. Cannizzo, Institute of Applied Physics, UniBE (NCCR Molecular Ultrafast Science and Technology), as well as PD Dr. M. Calame (Department of Physics & Swiss Nanoscience Institute, University of Basel).Another important aspect is the chemical synthesis of additional types of chromophoric building blocks. While concentrating on the investigation of the well-established polyaromatic hydrocarbons pyrene and phenanthrene, we will also synthesize and test the analogous phenanthroline building blocks. Of major importance in this regard will be the compatibility of the new derivatives with oligonucleotide synthesis, their ability to support the formation of multi-stranded hybrids, and, most importantly, the changes in electronic properties upon formation of multi-chromophoric aggregates. Although not explicitly mentioned in the detailed research plan, we are continuing our efforts with porphyrins and chrysene. Electronic coupling, which is present between chromophores in oligomers, is under investigation in collaboration with Prof. G. Calzaferri at our department.