Recent advances in biocompatible supramolecular assemblies for biomolecular detection and delivery

Inspired by sophisticated biological structures and their physiological processes, supramolecular chemistry has been developed for understanding and mimicking the behaviors of natural species. Through spontaneous self-assembly of functional building blocks, we are able to control the structures and regulate the functions of resulting supramolecular assemblies. Up to now, numerous functional supramolecular assemblies have been constructed and successfully employed as molecular devices, machines and biological diagnostic platforms. This review will focus on molecular structures of functional molecular building blocks and their assembled superstructures for biological detection and delivery. (C) 2013 Hao Wang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.