Confined Chiral Center Stacking Induced Twisted Silica Nanoribbons for Tumor Cell Proliferation Regulation

X Xingjin Li (Laboratory of Advanced Materials Aqueous Battery Center Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials Shanghai Wusong Laboratory of Materials Science College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Fudan University Shanghai P. R. China) P Pei‐Hang Xu (Department of Thoracic Surgery China‐Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing 100029 P.R. China) Q Qianqian Lu (College of Sciences) J Jie Zhang J Jiahao Chen (Spin-X Institute, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices) L Lingkai Dong (College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Department of Chemistry Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200433 P.R. China) B Bochong Shi (Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Department of Oncology Shanghai Medical College Fudan University 270 Dong An Road Shanghai 200032 P.R. China) J Jiayou Feng (College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Department of Chemistry Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200433 P.R. China) Z Zeid A. ALOthman A Ahmed Mohamed El‐Toni (King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology King Saud University Riyadh 11451 Saudi Arabia) M Mohamed A. Habila Y Yun Tang T Tiancong Zhao (Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials) D Dongyuan Zhao (Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Fudan University, 220 Handan, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China)

Abstract

Abstract Chirality governs physiological processes across scales, yet the ambiguous link between molecular chirality and mesostructured chirality persists. Here, we show that while peptide amphiphiles with molecular chirality can assemble into achiral nanostructures, the co‐assembly with silanes leads to left‐handed helical‐twisted nanoribbons and generates tumor cell activity inhibitory properties. The as‐synthesized micrometer‐long nanoribbons have a uniform morphology with a pitch of ∼340 nm, a width of ∼75 nm, and a thickness of ∼25 nm. An increase in the proportion of silane‐peptide amphiphile modulates the pitch radius ratios from 4.5 to 10.4. It is proposed that the longitudinal stacking force toward the chiral centers during the silane crosslinking can successfully induce chirality transfer from the molecular to the mesostructure. Theoretical calculations confirm this mechanism reduces surface area by 35%. Without drugs, these twisted nanoribbons inhibit tumor cell activity by up to 60%, versus <30% for achiral assemblies. RNA sequencing reveals that mesostructured chirality triggers apoptosis by suppressing cell adhesion and ultimately disrupting cellular metabolism. Our study focuses on the easily overlooked molecular interactions between multiple components during mesostructured chirality formation and the biofeedback role of mesostructured chirality, providing new perspectives for understanding the evolution and significance of chirality in nature.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 5
Published January 28, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

X

Xingjin Li

Laboratory of Advanced Materials Aqueous Battery Center Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials Shanghai Wusong Laboratory of Materials Science College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Fudan University Shanghai P. R. China

P

Pei‐Hang Xu

Department of Thoracic Surgery China‐Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing 100029 P.R. China

Q

Qianqian Lu

College of Sciences

J

Jie Zhang

J

Jiahao Chen

Spin-X Institute, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Magnetic Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices

L

Lingkai Dong

College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Department of Chemistry Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200433 P.R. China

B

Bochong Shi

Department of Musculoskeletal Tumor Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Department of Oncology Shanghai Medical College Fudan University 270 Dong An Road Shanghai 200032 P.R. China

J

Jiayou Feng

College of Smart Materials and Future Energy Department of Chemistry Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai 200433 P.R. China

Z

Zeid A. ALOthman

A

Ahmed Mohamed El‐Toni

King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology King Saud University Riyadh 11451 Saudi Arabia

M

Mohamed A. Habila

Y

Yun Tang

T

Tiancong Zhao

Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital & School of Stomatology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials

D

Dongyuan Zhao

Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, State Key Laboratory of Porous Materials for Separation and Conversion, Fudan University, 220 Handan, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China