Mixed-ligand nanoparticles as supramolecular receptors

The design of nanoparticle-based receptors has generally focused on the design of ligand molecules for the particles' ligand shell. This study focuses on the development of supramolecular nanoparticle receptors through the mixing of two types of ligand molecules. The nanoparticle receptor is achieved via the self-assembly of two ligands that together create binding sites, whereas each of the two homoligand particles has no appreciable binding capability.