A Single Heteroatom Controls Halogen-versus Chalcogen-Bond-Driven Cellular Uptake | Synapse
March 1, 2026
A Single Heteroatom Controls Halogen-versus Chalcogen-Bond-Driven Cellular Uptake
Key Points
Investigate how halogen and chalcogen bonds affect cellular uptake in the presence of a single heteroatom.
Developed modular fluorescent probes with varying heteroatoms
Analyzed membrane recognition through bond competition
Measured cellular uptake in controlled experiments
Identified a singular heteroatom significantly alters bond-driven uptake
Halogen and chalcogen bond efficiency varies depending on the heteroatom
Enhanced understanding of competitive interactions in cellular uptake
Abstract
Halogen and chalcogen bonds can both promote membrane recognition, but how they compete within the same scaffold remains unclear. Here we develop a modular set of fluorescent probes in which...