From viruses to nanoparticles, constructs functionalized with multiple ligands display peculiar binding properties that only arise from multivalent effects. Using statistical mechanical modelling, we describe here how multivalency can be exploited to achieve what we dub range selectivity, that is, binding only to targets bearing a number of receptors within a specified range. We use our model to characterise the region in parameter space where one can expect range selective targeting to occur, and provide experimental support for this phenomenon. Overall, range selectivity represents a potential path to increase the targeting selectivity of multivalent constructs.

从病毒到纳米颗粒，用多个配体功能化的构建体显示出仅由多价效应产生的独特结合特性。使用统计力学模型，我们在这里描述了如何利用多价来实现我们所说的范围选择性，即仅与具有指定范围内的多个受体的靶标结合。我们使用我们的模型来描述参数空间中可以预期发生范围选择性靶向的区域，并为这一现象提供实验支持。总体而言，范围选择性代表了提高多价构建体的靶向选择性的潜在途径。