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INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS DISCOVERY

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Encapsulation at the nanoscale

Encapsulation underpins a number of fundamental processes in living systems and occurs on multiple length scales, ranging from the inclusion of small molecules within enzymatic pockets to the compartmentalisation in cells by lipid bilayers.
My group is interested in building and studying novel nanoconfined systems including molecular host-guest complexes, core-shell nanostructures and other self-assembled constructs (e.g. micelles and vesicles).
These nanoconfined systems can be used as nanoreactors for catalysis, nanocarriers for cargo delivery, plus nanoarmour for ultrastable nanoparticles.

 Fig 1. Aa TEM tilt series of a dynamic inclusion complex of a gold nanoparticle inside a SiO2 nanocup. Scale bar = 20 nm. [Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015]

TEM tilt series of a dynamic inclusion complex of a gold nanoparticle inside a SiO2 nanocup.jpg

Recent Publications

Cover Issues Encapsulation.jpg
  • Mariana Alarcón-Correa, Tung-Chun Lee*, and Peer Fischer, "Dynamic inclusion complexes of metal nanoparticles inside nanocups", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 6730-6734. (Cover article)
  • Dezhi Jiao, Jin Geng, Xian Jun Loh, Debapratim Das, Tung-Chun Lee, and Oren A. Scherman, "Supramolecular peptide amphiphile vesicles through host-guest complexation", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 9633 -9637
  • Tung-Chun Lee, Elina Kalenius, Alexandra I. Lazar, Khaleel I. Assaf, Nikolai Kuhnert, Christian H. Grün, Janne Jänis, Oren A. Scherman, and Werner M. Nau, "Chemistry inside molecular containers in the gas phase", Nat. Chem., 2013, 5, 376-382. (Cover article)

Patents

  • Hyeon-Ho Jeong, Tung-Chun Lee, and Peer Fischer, "Method for encapsulating a nanostructure, coated nanostructure and use of a coated nanostructure", 2015, EPO/15 161 329.6.