Nanocomplex made up of antimicrobial metallo-supramolecules and model biomembranes - characterization and enhanced fluorescence.

Antimicrobial pentatopic 2,2':6',2''-terpyridines that form 3-D supramolecular hexagonal prisms with Cd2+ through coordination driven self-assembly can be entrapped by lipid discoidal bicelles, composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-dihexanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) lipid, forming a well-defined nanocomplex. Structural characterization performed by very small angle neutron scattering, small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy suggests that the hexagonal prisms are preferably located at the rim of bicellar discs with the hexagonal face in parallel with the bilayers, instead of face-to-face stacking. Such a configuration reduces the π-π interaction and consequently enhances the fluorescence emission. Since novel supramolecules were reported to have antibiotic functions, this study provides insight into the interactions of antimicrobial supermolecules with lipid membranes, leading to potential theranostic applications.