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PreprintCC BY-NC-NDChemRxiv

A Fluorescent Pillarplex Rotaxane as a Modular Supramolecular Organometallic Platform for Nanoassemblies

  • Julian Zuber1,2
  • Alina Tengler3,4
  • Nils Bäumer5
  • Moumita Maji2
  • Benno Dauer1,2
  • Angela Casini1,2
  • Job Boekhoven5
  • Friederike Adams1,3,4
  • Alexander Pöthig1,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer-Str. 1, Garching, 85748
  2. 2School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, 85748
  3. 3University Eye Hospital, Center for Ophthalmology, Section for Translational Research in Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 7, Tübingen, 72076
  4. 4Chair of Macromolecular Materials and Fiber Chemistry, Institute of Polymer Chemistry , University of Stuttgart , Pfaffenwaldring 55, Stuttgart, Germany, 70569
  5. 5School of Natural Sciences, Department of Bioscience, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstr. 4, Garching, 85748
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Abstract

Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) offer attractive opportunities to modularly integrate bioactivity, molecular recognition, and optical readout within a single supramolecular architecture. Here, we report a fluorescent [2]rotaxane platform based on a cationic organometallic pillarplex ring and fluorescein stoppers as intrinsic imaging labels. The pillarplex ring promotes interactions with biorelevant polyanions such as nucleic acids, while the fluorescein stoppers ensure optical traceability by confocal microscopy. Cellular uptake by A549 cancer cells is demonstrated, showing that the fluorescent rotaxane remains predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. The rotaxane can furthermore be integrated into multicomponent nanoassemblies, such as coacervates and biopharmaceutical-relevant polyplexes. For the latter, in the presence of siRNA and cationic polymers, the rotaxane forms assemblies that even enhance cellular uptake and imaging. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that dye incorporation provides a powerful strategy for modulating pillarplex rotaxanes, thereby enabling controlled uptake, localization within the cell by fluorescence labeling and co-assembly.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{zuber2026fluorescent,
  title = {{A Fluorescent Pillarplex Rotaxane as a Modular Supramolecular Organometallic Platform for Nanoassemblies}},
  author = {Julian Zuber and Alina Tengler and Nils Bäumer and Moumita Maji and Benno Dauer and Angela Casini and Job Boekhoven and Friederike Adams and Alexander Pöthig},
  howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15008081/v1},
  url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008081/v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - A Fluorescent Pillarplex Rotaxane as a Modular Supramolecular Organometallic Platform for Nanoassemblies
AU  - Julian Zuber
AU  - Alina Tengler
AU  - Nils Bäumer
AU  - Moumita Maji
AU  - Benno Dauer
AU  - Angela Casini
AU  - Job Boekhoven
AU  - Friederike Adams
AU  - Alexander Pöthig
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/31
PB  - ChemRxiv
DO  - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008081/v1
UR  - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008081/v1
AB  - Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) offer attractive opportunities to modularly integrate bioactivity, molecular recognition, and optical readout within a single supramolecular architecture. Here, we report a fluorescent [2]rotaxane platform based on a cationic organometallic pillarplex ring and fluorescein stoppers as intrinsic imaging labels. The pillarplex ring promotes interactions with biorelevant polyanions such as nucleic acids, while the fluorescein stoppers ensure optical traceability by confocal microscopy. Cellular uptake by A549 cancer cells is demonstrated, showing that the fluorescent rotaxane remains predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. The rotaxane can furthermore be integrated into multicomponent nanoassemblies, such as coacervates and biopharmaceutical-relevant polyplexes. For the latter, in the presence of siRNA and cationic polymers, the rotaxane forms assemblies that even enhance cellular uptake and imaging. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that dye incorporation provides a powerful strategy for modulating pillarplex rotaxanes, thereby enabling controlled uptake, localization within the cell by fluorescence labeling and co-assembly.
ER  -