Supramolecular chirality in self-organised systems and thin films

G. Giancane

G. Giancane graduated in Physics from the University of Lecce in 2002 and obtained his PhD in Materials Engineering in 2008. He is currently an Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Salento. His research focuses on the deposition and characterization of thin organic films for photo-optic and sensing applications. In particular, his work is dedicated to exploring deposition methods that promote the formation of supramolecular assemblies and allow for the tuning of their properties. Among these properties, the supramolecular formation of chiral structures represents a fascinating aspect of self-assembled molecular building blocks.

S. Bettini

S. Bettini graduated in Biotechnology at the University of Salento in 2008. She earned her PhD in Materials and Structural Engineering at the same university, following research conducted at the Glynn Laboratory of Bioenergetics (University College London). Since February 2022, she has been an assistant professor at the University of Salento in Physical Chemistry. Her research focuses on the design and characterization of supramolecular assemblies based on organic, inorganic, and hybrid nanosystems, including metal nanoparticles and thin films, such as Langmuir–Schaefer and Layer-by-Layer thin films, with enhanced properties, including supramolecular chirality.

L. Valli

Ludovico Valli graduated cum laude in Chemistry in 1988 at Pisa University and has been full professor of Physical Chemistry since 2005 at UniSalento, Lecce, Italy. He is the author of more than 190 articles. His research interests are: spectroscopic characterization and growth of thin films via humid self-organization techniques; photoinduced phenomena in thin films; surface chemistry; materials science; supramolecular chemistry; and chemical sensors. He also has an intense and continuous participation in scientific meetings with oral contributions also as an invited speaker and keynote speaker.

In the fascinating world of molecular science, chirality holds a special place by reason of its key role in asymmetry, dictating the behavior and interactions of molecules in nature. From the twisted helix of DNA to the way light interacts with certain compounds, chirality is everywhere. At its most basic level, chirality describes a property of an object that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image, much like our left and right hands. But when chirality extends beyond individual molecules to larger, more complex assemblies, we enter the intriguing realm of supramolecular chirality.

Supramolecular chirality is the manifestation of chirality in assemblies of molecules, driven by non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, or π–π stacking with other molecules or special surfaces (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00894K). What makes supramolecular chirality particularly captivating is that it emerges not from the individual building blocks themselves, but from the collective organization of these molecules. This phenomenon can lead to the formation of chiral structures, such as helices or twisted ribbons, even when the constituent molecules themselves are achiral (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NA00531F).

One compelling example of supramolecular chirality can be found in liquid crystals, where the self-organization of molecules into twisted structures (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00353E) gives rise to fascinating optical properties (https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NA01070G). Similarly, in biological systems, supramolecular chirality is fundamental to the functioning of many macromolecular assemblies, such as the chiral arrangement of proteins and lipids in cell membranes, which plays a key role in cell signaling and function.

A particularly exciting application of supramolecular chirality is in the field of chiral sensing (https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NA00127A). Chiral sensors are designed to detect enantiomers by exploiting the unique interactions between chiral analytes and chiral sensor molecules and/or aggregates. Supramolecular assemblies can amplify these subtle differences in chirality, making it possible to achieve highly selective detection. This has profound implications for fields like pharmacology, where the ability to distinguish between enantiomers is critical since the different mirror images of a drug can have drastically different biological effects.

Supramolecular chiral sensors are also proving valuable in environmental monitoring, where they can be used to detect pollutants, toxins, or even drugs with high specificity. By incorporating chirality into the design of these sensors, researchers can create systems that respond selectively to chiral molecules in complex environments (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00217B). This not only enhances sensitivity, but also offers opportunities for real-time monitoring and diagnostics.

Beyond biology and sensing, supramolecular chirality is also at the forefront of cutting-edge materials science (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NA00027G). Researchers are harnessing this property to create new materials with unique functionalities (https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NA00159F), such as chiral catalysts and even potential applications in nanotechnology (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00301A, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00192J). These supramolecular systems offer promising pathways for innovation (https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NA00808H), as they allow scientists to design materials that mimic the complexity and precision of biological systems.

In the broader scope of chemistry, chirality has always been a fundamental concept, but supramolecular chirality introduces an additional layer of complexity and opportunity (https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NA00789D). By understanding and controlling how molecules organize themselves into chiral structures (https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NA00216A), we are not only unveiling new scientific insights but also unlocking powerful tools for technological advancement (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NA00425E, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NA00284H).

As we continue to explore supramolecular chirality, especially in fields like sensing and materials science, it's clear that this concept will play a pivotal role in shaping innovations across disciplines. Whether in medicine, environmental science, or technology, supramolecular chirality is poised to make a significant impact on how we detect, understand, and manipulate the molecular world around us.

As Guest Editors of this themed collection, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the authors for their high-quality contributions and to the referees for their diligent work, which ensured the excellence of this collection. Finally, we extend our gratitude to the Editorial Staff of Nanoscale Advances for their dedicated efforts and ongoing support.

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