1, Self-Assembly of Giant Supramolecular Architectures

Nature exhibits numerous protein structures with precise symmetries and enormous dimensions. These assemblies not only underpin our understanding of biological systems but also inspire chemists to design molecular architectures with atomic precision. However, the limited comprehension of design principles and structural stability impedes progress toward achieving virus-scale supramolecular assemblies that match both the size and morphology of spherical viruses. As assembly dimensions and subunit counts increase, self-assembly processes become progressively less controllable. To address this fundamental challenge, our research aims to develop rational design strategies for the controlled synthesis of giant molecular assemblies rivaling spherical viruses in both size and complexity.

2, Characterizations of Giant Supramolecular Architectures

The structural elucidation of synthetic giant supramolecular architectures presents significant challenges due to their inherent complexity, dynamic behavior, and massive dimensions. To address this, we employ an integrated multi-scale characterization platform combining:

     a. Solution-state analysis (NMR spectroscopy, SAXS)

     b. Chemical composition validation (High-resolution ESI-MS spectrometry)

     c. Solid-state visualization (HR-TEM, AFM)

     d. Computational modeling (MD simulations for structural prediction)

Critically, we are pioneering the application of cryo-electron microscopy single-particle analysis (Cryo-EM SPA) to synthetic giant supramolecular systems.