Bioinspired Synthesis of Au Nanostructures Templated from Amyloid β Peptide Assembly with Enhanced Catalytic Activity

Peptides have been regarded as useful biomolecule templates to control the synthesis of various inorganic nanomaterials in mild conditions. Inspired by this, the easily self-assembled amyloid β (Aβ) peptide was developed as an alternative template to prepare Au nanostructures for the enhanced catalytic activity, for instance, the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The presence of Aβ peptide assemblies with different structures could direct the nucleation of Au to form different Au nanostructures. Using the Aβ_25-35 monomers, nanoribbons, and nanofibrils prepared by the self-assembly in phosphate buffered (PB) solution at 0, 3, and 12 h, respectively, as templates could controllably prepare Au nanospheres, nanoribbons, and nanofibers, while the Aβ_25-35 monomers prepared by the self-assembly in water at 0 h could direct the synthesis of Au nanoflowers. The Aβ_25-35-templated Au nanostructures had different catalytic activities due to the size and structure effects, which however are significantly enhanced as compared with the template-free Au nanoparticles.