Natural Small-Molecule-Based Carrier-Free Self-Assembly Library Originated from Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

The carrier-free self-assembly of small molecules opens a new window for the development of nanomaterials. This study is dedicated to developing binary small-molecular self-assemblies derived from phytochemicals in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Among them, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma are a common pair used in clinics for thousands of years. Here, we found that there were numerous spherical supramolecular nanoparticles (NPs) originated from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma decoction. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/ tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the composition of the supramolecules, and a total of 119 phytochemicals were identified (23 anthraquinones, 31 alkaloids, 24 organic acids, 8 tannins, and other components). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) showed that the interaction between Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma was a spontaneous exothermic reaction, indicating that their phytochemicals had the property of self-assembly and interacted to form supramolecules in the decocting process. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV, IR, NMR, and ITC were used to verify that rhein and coptisine could self-assemble into nanofibers (Rhe-Cop NFs), while emodin and coptisine could self-assemble into nanoparticles (Emo-Cop NPs). The formation mechanism analysis of the self-assemblies revealed that they were induced by electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi stacking, forming nanospheres of about 50 nm and nanofibers. The current study not only provides an idea of discovering carrier-free self-assemblies from traditional herbal medicine decoction but also supplies a reference for the design of binary self-assembly of small molecules in the future.