Superchaotropicity, a New Mechanism for the Intracellular Delivery of Bioactive Molecules Using Boron Clusters

Abstract

The internalization of bioactive molecules is a key issue in various research fields. Hydrophilic compounds do not penetrate cells unless they are assisted by a class of molecules called carriers. To date, most artificial carriers have been designed based on amphiphilicity. However, these molecules have some limitations. In this thesis, we present a new class of direct membrane transporters that leaves behind the amphiphilic paradigm. These carriers are globular boron clusters: anionic, inorganic, and water-soluble, able to interact both with the membranes and the cargo. With this project, we want to demonstrate that superchaotropic carriers could be used for a completely new mechanism of translocation across the membrane.