Warwick chemists Becky Kaner and Alan Faulkner, working with other members of the Scott research group, have developed a unique asymmetric self-assembly which delivers optically pure triplex helicates. The molecules, based on helical arrays of small organic molecules around a core of Fe(II) ions, have amphipathic structures like host-defence peptides, and they act as highly potent and highly selective anticancer compounds. The work is published in Nature Chemistry.

• Media, academic and commercial interest
• The image is of the asymmetric metal helix sculpture Grown In The Field by Avtarjeet Dhanjal (1976) which is part of the University of Warwick Art Collection.
• Warwick press release.