Work

Supramolecular Polymers Formed by ABC Miktoarm Star Peptides

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: We report here the design and synthesis of an ABC miktoarm star peptide connecting through a lysine junction a short peptide sequence and two hydrophobic but immiscible blocks (a hydrocarbon and a fluorocarbon). The designed molecule can self-assemble into one-dimensional nanostructures with a great diversity of kinetically evolving morphologies in aqueous solution, while molecules that contain only one of the two hydrophobic blocks form structurally similar filaments. We believe the rich assembly behavior and morphological evolution are a direct reflection of the molecular frustration present within the filament core as a result of the in-compatibility of the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon segments. Our finding opens new opportunities for creating complex supramolecular polymers through the architecture design of small molecular building units.

Source: ACS Macro Letters

DOI: 10.1021/mz400535g

Authors: Yi-An Lin, Yu-Chuan Ou, Andrew G. Cheetham, Honggang Cui

Institution: Johns Hopkins University

Language: English

Topic: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

Awards: G2861946347, G3949783963, G3975751460, T-32 NIH Postdoctoral Training Program in Nanotechnology for Cancer Medicine NTCM