Ligand-Triggered Topology Switching Converts Transient Recognition into Durable Nanofibrillar Anchoring

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Authors: Jun Liao, H LIU, Nana Li, Lidong Gong, Yi-Xiang Wang, Yijuan Wu, Yicheng Pu, Wenxiu He, Mingle Li, Xiaojun Peng, Zhiqiang Lin
Cited by: 6
References: 43

Abstract

Converting transient molecular recognition into persistent interfacial architectures under nonequilibrium conditions remains a fundamental challenge in supramolecular chemistry. Here, we report a ligand-triggered topology-switching strategy that overcomes hemodynamic washout by coupling receptor engagement with an in situ phase transition. Rationalized as a kinetically trapped metastable assembly, our system circulates as discrete nanospheres but executes a cooperative topological switch into an entangled nanofibrillar network upon specific integrin recognition. This ligand-induced fibrillation shifts the assembly from a mobile to an adhesive state, transforming short-lived binding events into durable interfacial retention. Using thrombosis as a stringent model, we demonstrate that this mechanism enables site-specific anchoring and gated bioactivity, effectively restoring vascular homeostasis. These findings establish ligand-triggered topology switching as a general chemical paradigm for translating transient biological interactions into robust functional materials.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials Crystallography and molecular interactions

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
148
Issue
20
Pages
21123–21135
Publication date
12 May 2026
Language
EN