Chemical Engineering April 2019 - 11

First applications announced for a
supramolecular chemistry technology
A
novel and versatile performance
chemistry that enables a variety
of supramolecular assemblies
has been released for its first
commercial applications. The molecules,
tradenamed AqBit, are characterized by
their ringed structures, barrel-like shapes
and ability to capture, hold and release
other materials. The company Aqdot Ltd.
(Cambridge, U.K.; www.aqdot.com) is
commercializing AqBit for a host of applications,
all involving supramolecular
assemblies held together by non-covalent
interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and
hydrophobic interactions.
The first commercial application for the
technology is in air quality, and is a system
designed to capture molecules such
as thiols or amines, main components of
household and industrial odors. " AqBit
captures the odor-causing species very
effectively, rather than just masking them
with other fragrances, " says Jing Zhang,
co-founder of Aqdot.
A second commercial application is in
the personal care industry, where there has
been a demand for more naturally derived
ingredients. The natural components in personal
care products are desirable environmentally
and from a consumer preference
angle, says Zhang, but they have difficulty
forming the stable oil-in-water emulsions
needed for formulating these products. The
AqBit-enabled naturally derived emulsifier
AqStar M1 stabilizes the emulsions to allow
performance with the desired ingredients
while delivering formulation flexibility and
distinctive aesthetics, she adds.
In other instances, AqBit acts as a supramolecular
" linker " for polymers to form
a capsule around some target species,
such as enzymes, agrochemicals and
pharmaceuticals. In life sciences applications,
AqBit-enabled capsules can be used
to deliver genes for therapy. Then, using a
chemical trigger, such as a pH change, or
a redox reaction, the capsules can be induced
to release their payloads.
The commercial applications have been
enabled by the company's development
of a proprietary, large-scale manufacturing
process. The company plans to develop a
host of products based on the supramolecular
chemistry technology.
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Chemical Engineering April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering April 2019
