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Molecular-Level Control over Plasmonic Properties in Silver Nanoparticle/Self-Assembling Peptide Hybrids
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 12, 2020
Summary
Chiral peptide amphiphiles create distinct silver nanoparticle arrays. Nanohelices templated by KSEK exhibit superior surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) performance compared to nanoribbons, showcasing structure-dependent plasmonic properties.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Plasmonic properties of silver nanoparticle (AgNP) arrays depend on size, shape, and arrangement.
- Chiral self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles (APs) offers precise control over nanomaterial architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a strategy for creating chiral AgNP arrays using constitutionally isomeric APAs.
- To investigate how subtle molecular structure differences in APAs influence the plasmonic properties of AgNP/APA hybrids.
- To evaluate the performance of these hybrid materials as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates.
Main Methods:
- Self-assembly of two isomeric APAs (KSEK and EKSK) into nanostructures in the presence of silver ions and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSSS).
- Templated synthesis of approximately 8 nm AgNP arrays on the assembled nanostructures.
- Characterization of plasmonic properties and colloidal stability of the AgNP/APA hybrids.
- Assessment of SERS performance using model analytes.
Main Results:
- One APA (KSEK) formed chiral nanohelices, while the isomer (EKSK) formed nanoribbons.
- Both AgNP/APA hybrids demonstrated enhanced colloidal stability compared to pure AgNPs.
- Nanohelical AgNP arrays exhibited superior SERS sensitivity compared to nanoribbon counterparts and pure AgNPs.
Conclusions:
- Molecular structure of APAs dictates the self-assembled nanostructure (nanohelices vs. nanoribbons).
- Chiral AgNP nanohelices serve as highly effective SERS substrates with improved stability and sensitivity.
- This work highlights the potential of structurally controlled peptide amphiphiles for advanced plasmonic nanomaterials.
