
Molecular motors in motion: visualizing alpha-cyclodextrin motion alongside polymer chains
Polypseudorotaxanes, by which α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) rings shuttle alongside a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain, are promising candidates for molecular machines. Nevertheless, their molecular dynamics have remained unclear. Researchers have now used fast-scanning atomic power microscopy (FS-AFM) to visualise α-CD rings shifting alongside a PEG chain. This breakthrough establishes FS-AFM as a strong device for analyzing supramolecular…