Stable and discrete metal organic nanocages in solution are required in many applications, which could be often achieved by their charges. However, in dilute solution, some charged metal organic nanocages, similar to other types of macroions, are found to spontaneously self-assemble into single-layer, hollow spherical structures. Here, Pd12L24 metal organic nanocage is PEGylated to avoid stability issue and the dilute solutions behaviors of the nanocage and its two PEGylated derivatives are explored. The basic nanocages can self-assemble into vesicle-like structures in polar solvents via counterion-mediated attraction, while the PEGylated nanocages always stay as discrete ions under the same conditions, demonstrating that the PEGylation can improve the stability of the single nanocages.

Modification of the solution behavior of Pd12L24 metal organic nanocages via PEGylation

254th National Meeting (2017)

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