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Solid-phase Submonomer Synthesis of Peptoid Polymers and their Self-Assembly into Highly-Ordered Nanosheets
Published on: November 2, 2011
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Nanosheet Formation by an Anionic Surfactant-like Peptide and Modulation of Self-Assembly through Ionic Complexation
Ian W Hamley1, Jessica Hutchinson1, Steven Kirkham1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights , Reading RG6 6AD, U.K.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|September 17, 2016
Summary
Surfactant-like peptide self-assembles into ultrathin nanosheets. Modulating this self-assembly with hexamethylenediamine creates diverse nanostructures, enabling new nanomaterial fabrication.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Supramolecular Chemistry
Background:
- Surfactant-like peptides offer tunable self-assembly properties.
- Understanding peptide self-assembly is crucial for designing novel nanomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the self-assembly of the peptide (Ala)6-(Asp) (A6D) into nanostructures.
- To explore the modulation of A6D self-assembly by hexamethylenediamine.
- To identify potential applications in nanomaterial fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Circular dichroism (CD) and FTIR spectroscopy to determine peptide conformation.
- X-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis.
- Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to characterize nanostructures.
Main Results:
- A6D self-assembles into 3 nm thick nanosheets with β-sheet conformation above a critical concentration.
- Hexamethylenediamine addition modulates self-assembly, yielding nanosheet and bicontinuous network structures.
- High diamine ratios disrupt ordered structures, forming molecular complexes.
Conclusions:
- The self-assembly of A6D is controllable via hexamethylenediamine.
- Tunable acid-functionalized nanostructures can be accessed.
- These findings suggest broad applications in advanced nanomaterial design.
