CHAPTER 4: Complexation of Biomedically Important Organic Compounds

This chapter deals with applications of synthetic receptors for sensing organic molecules, from metabolites via nucleotides, aminoacids, peptides, carbohydrates and alkaloids to drugs and toxins. Many synthetic host compounds have been designed for a highly sensitive and selective detection, most often with suitable units for optical signalling. The uses of such receptors for modulation of protein interactions and for detoxification, etc. are also mentioned. Emphasis is given to host structures which are not treated specifically in other chapters, namely to cyclophanes, molecular tweezers, and crown ethers.