Supramolecular assembly of pyrene–DNA conjugates: influence of pyrene substitution pattern and implications for artificial LHCs

The supramolecular self-assembly of pyrene–DNA conjugates into nanostructures is presented. DNA functionalized with different types of pyrene isomers at the 3′-end self-assemble into nano-objects. The shape of the nanostructures is influenced by the type of pyrene isomer appended to the DNA. Multilamellar vesicles are observed with the 1,6- and 1,8-isomers, whereas conjugates of the 2,7-isomer exclusively assemble into spherical nanoparticles. Self-assembled nano-spheres obtained with the 2,7-dialkynyl pyrene isomer were used for the construction of an artificial light-harvesting complex (LHC) in combination with Cy3 as the energy acceptor.