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Vesicle-shaped supramolecular polymers are formed by self-assembly of a DNA duplex containing phenanthrene overhangs at both ends. In the presence of spermine, the phenanthrene overhangs act as sticky ends linking the DNA duplexes together. In aqueous solution, the assembly leads to vesicles with a diameter in the range of 50-200 nm. Fluorescence measurements show that the assembled phenanthrene units act as light-harvesting complexes and transfer absorbed energy to an acceptor, such as pyrene or Cy3, which can either be directly added to the polymer or attached via a complementary DNA strand. The presence of DNA in the nanostructures allows the construction of light-harvesting vesicles that are amenable to derivatization with different functional groups.

The effect of a GC base pair on the excitation energy transfer in a DNA-based, light harvesting assembly of phenanthrene and pyrene chromophores is described. After absorption of light at 320 nm by the stacked phenanthrene building blocks, the excitation energy is transferred to the pyrene and leads to the formation of a phenanthrene-pyrene exciplex. The fluorescence intensity depends on the number of light absorbing phenanthrenes, as well as on the type of DNA base pair flanking the phenanthrene stack. In comparison to an AT base pair, a GC base pair located next to the stacked aromatic residues results in a reduction of fluorescence. The degree of quenching is dependent on the length of the phenanthrene stack that separates the GC base pair from the exciplex. Overall, a large number of stacked phenanthrenes positively affects exciplex fluorescence by increasing the quantity of absorbed light and, at the same time, reducing the effect of quenching by GC base pairs.

The self-assembly of highly functionalized phenanthrene–DNA conjugates into supramolecular nanostructures is presented. DNA oligomers modified with phenanthrene residues at the 3′-end and internal positions self-assemble into spherical nanostructures. The nanospheres exhibit light-harvesting properties. Upon irradiation of phenanthrene, the excitation energy is transferred along phenanthrene units, resulting in phenanthrene–pyrene exciplex formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A supramolecular light‐harvesting antenna consisting of 3,6‐disubstituted phosphodiester‐linked phenanthrene trimers (donors) was doped with different charged and uncharged polyaromatic and heteroaromatic acceptor chromophores. Excitation of the phenanthrene moieties is followed by energy transfer to the acceptor molecules and radiative relaxation. The self‐assembled fiber structure of the phenanthrene trimers is not altered by the dopant, as verified by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Among several neutral and cationic acceptor chromophores, benzo(a)pyrene emerged as one of the highest fluorescence quantum yields, reaching 31 % at a chromophore/phenanthrene ratio of 12 mol‐%. The energy transfer is probably a combination of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and a coherent energy transfer mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To exert its role of a functional polymer, DNA relies on a molecular self-assembly process that is driven by the interactions of only four units placed in a defined order. Extending the structural diversity of recognition motifs in DNA, to and beyond analogues of the nucleobases, will open doors to self-assembled materials with advanced programmable properties. DNA-inspired systems are becoming useful for numerous applications unachievable by the nucleic acids in their native composition. Potential applications of rationally designed oligo- and polyphosphodiesters reside in the areas of drug delivery, diagnostic signalling and imaging, in systems for efficient energy transfer or the precise ordering on the nanoscale. The field of DNA-inspired phosphodiesters highlights the general value and utility of precision in the composition of oligomers and polymers. In this tutorial review, we will summarize the approaches of directing the self-assembly of DNA-inspired, sequence-specific polyphosphodiesters into soft materials with unique properties. These data expose the so far underexploited potential of DNA-derived systems in solving some of the key issues in various technological areas, such as advanced biomaterials, morphologically defined soft matter or the controlled polymer folding and assembly. Moreover, precise positioning of structurally diverse molecules within a polymer chain creates unmatched opportunities for encoding information on the molecular level and transmitting it further to the microscopic and even macroscopic level via noncovalent interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach combining DNA nanoscaffolds with supramolecular polymers for the efficient and directional propagation of light‐harvesting cascades has been developed. A series of photonic wires with different arrangements of fluorophores in DNA‐organized nanostructures were linked to light‐harvesting supramolecular phenanthrene polymers (SPs) in a self‐assembled fashion. Among them, a light‐harvesting complex (LHC) composed of SPs and a photonic wire of phenanthrene, Cy3, Cy5, and Cy5.5 chromophores reveals a remarkable energy transfer efficiency of 59 %. Stepwise transfer of the excitation energy collected by the light‐harvesting SPs via the intermediate Cy3 and Cy5 chromophores to the final Cy5.5 acceptor proceeds through a Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism. In addition, the light‐harvesting properties are documented by antenna effects ranging from 1.4 up to 23 for different LHCs. Catching the light: Artificial light‐harvesting complexes were assembled by integrating DNA photonic wires into supramolecular polymers. The combination of DNA nanoscaffolds with supramolecular polymers leads to efficient and directional propagation of light‐harvesting cascades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2,7-disubstituted phosphodiester-linked phenanthrene trimer forms tubular structures in aqueous media. Chromophores are arranged in H-aggregates. Incorporation of small quantities of pyrene results in the development of light-harvesting nanotubes in which phenanthrenes act as antenna chromophores and pyrenes as energy acceptors. Energy collection is most efficient after excitation at the phenanthrene H-band. Fluorescence quantum yields up to 23 % are reached in pyrene doped, supramolecular nanotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient collection of solar energy relies on the design and construction of well-organized light-harvesting systems. Herein we report that supramolecular phenanthrene polymers doped with pyrene are effective collectors of light energy. The linear polymers are formed through the assembly of short amphiphilic oligomers in water. Absorption of light by phenanthrene residues is followed by electronic energy transfer along the polymer over long distances (>100 nm) to the accepting pyrene molecules. The high efficiency of the energy transfer, which is documented by large fluorescence quantum yields, suggests a quantum coherent process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA‐based light‐harvesting antennae with varying arrangements of light‐absorbing phenanthrene donor units and a pyrene acceptor dye were synthesized and tested for their light‐harvesting properties. Excitation of phenanthrene is followed by rapid transfer of the excitation energy to the pyrene chromophore. A block of six light‐absorbing phenanthrenes was separated from the site of the acceptor in a stepwise manner by an increasing number of intervening AT base pairs. Energy transfer occurs through interposed AT base pairs and is still detected when the phenanthrene antenna is separated by 5 AT base pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]