Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly

Abstract Due to the small size and biocompatibility of molecules, molecular logic-based computation is a gateway to the informational basis of life processes. Logic-based computation operates widely with discrete molecules of up to nanometric sizes. The contribution of molecule-based bulk materials...

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Main Authors: Ze-Qing Chen, Brian Daly, Chao-Yi Yao, Hannah S. N. Crory, Yikai Xu, Ziwei Ye, H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne, Ayumi Kimura, Seiichi Uchiyama, Steven E. J. Bell, Eric V. Anslyn, A. Prasanna de Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58379-0
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author Ze-Qing Chen
Brian Daly
Chao-Yi Yao
Hannah S. N. Crory
Yikai Xu
Ziwei Ye
H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne
Ayumi Kimura
Seiichi Uchiyama
Steven E. J. Bell
Eric V. Anslyn
A. Prasanna de Silva
author_facet Ze-Qing Chen
Brian Daly
Chao-Yi Yao
Hannah S. N. Crory
Yikai Xu
Ziwei Ye
H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne
Ayumi Kimura
Seiichi Uchiyama
Steven E. J. Bell
Eric V. Anslyn
A. Prasanna de Silva
author_sort Ze-Qing Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to the small size and biocompatibility of molecules, molecular logic-based computation is a gateway to the informational basis of life processes. Logic-based computation operates widely with discrete molecules of up to nanometric sizes. The contribution of molecule-based bulk materials of milli/centimetric size to the field has begun in more recent years. However, artificial molecule-based meso-scale systems which intrinsically perform logic operations are very rare. Here, we show that self-assembled systems consisting of cyclophane octacarboxylates and a cationic surfactant can perform such functions, where a membrane itself behaves as a Reset-Set Flip-Flop which is integrated with 7 more logic elements. Now that molecular logic-based computation operates across a wide range of contiguous size-scales, the way opens for its general use in information processing aspects of biology and synthetic biology.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-47998db514b448abb10bb627132c81c62025-08-20T03:40:50ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-011611710.1038/s41467-025-58379-0Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assemblyZe-Qing Chen0Brian Daly1Chao-Yi Yao2Hannah S. N. Crory3Yikai Xu4Ziwei Ye5H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne6Ayumi Kimura7Seiichi Uchiyama8Steven E. J. Bell9Eric V. Anslyn10A. Prasanna de Silva11School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Yuelu DistrictSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversityInstitute of Engineering Innovation, The University of TokyoGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of TokyoSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s UniversityAbstract Due to the small size and biocompatibility of molecules, molecular logic-based computation is a gateway to the informational basis of life processes. Logic-based computation operates widely with discrete molecules of up to nanometric sizes. The contribution of molecule-based bulk materials of milli/centimetric size to the field has begun in more recent years. However, artificial molecule-based meso-scale systems which intrinsically perform logic operations are very rare. Here, we show that self-assembled systems consisting of cyclophane octacarboxylates and a cationic surfactant can perform such functions, where a membrane itself behaves as a Reset-Set Flip-Flop which is integrated with 7 more logic elements. Now that molecular logic-based computation operates across a wide range of contiguous size-scales, the way opens for its general use in information processing aspects of biology and synthetic biology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58379-0
spellingShingle Ze-Qing Chen
Brian Daly
Chao-Yi Yao
Hannah S. N. Crory
Yikai Xu
Ziwei Ye
H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne
Ayumi Kimura
Seiichi Uchiyama
Steven E. J. Bell
Eric V. Anslyn
A. Prasanna de Silva
Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
Nature Communications
title Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
title_full Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
title_fullStr Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
title_full_unstemmed Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
title_short Scaling-up molecular logic to meso-systems via self-assembly
title_sort scaling up molecular logic to meso systems via self assembly
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58379-0
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