Bioinspired Design of Nanocages by Self-Assembling Triskelion Peptide Elements

Crystal Engineering and Self-Assembled Nanoring Formation with Purine-CdII /HgII Supramolecular Frameworks

We report three complexes of CdII and HgII with two purine rare tautomers, N9-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-N6 -methoxyadenine, L1 and N7-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-N6 -methoxyadenine, L2, highlighting diverse crystallographic signatures exhibited by them. Influence of substituents, binding sites, steric effects and metal salts on the different modes of binding enabled an insight into metal-nucleobase interactions. L1 interacted with two and three equivalents of Cd(NO3 )2 .4H2 O and HgCl2 , respectively, while L2 interacted with two equivalents of HgCl2 , altogether leading to three different complexes (1 [C48 H48 Cd6 N34 O50 ], 2 [C12 H12 Cl4 Hg2 N6 O] and 3 [C12 H12 Cl2 HgN6 O]) possessing varied dimensionality and stabilising interactions. The photoluminescent properties of these coordination frameworks have also been probed. Notably, nanoring-like structures were obtained, as a result of self-assembly of 3 when investigated by transmission electron microscopy, additionally supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Mercury-instructed assembly (MiA): architecting clathrin triskelion-inspired highly functional C3-symmetric triskelion nanotorus functional structures into microtorus structures

To detect heavy metal toxicity using self-assembled nanostructures, a clathrin triskelion-inspired highly functional C₃-symmetric trimerized biotinylated di-tryptophan peptide was used. This triskelion peptide is known to self-assemble into nanotorus-like structures and can therefore act as a nanocage for various analytes. In this work, in addition to spectroscopy, force and electron microscopy were successfully used to detect the effect of toxic metal ions such as zinc, cadmium, and mercury by exploiting the change in the nanotorus morphology. Different concentrations of mercury led to the expansion of nanotorus structures into microtori. Therefore, we provide a unique application of heavy metal toxicity by utilizing "material nanoarchitectonics" to architect nanotorus structures into higher-order microtorus structures, as instructed by mercury. Such a strategy can make heavy metal sensing easier for materials scientists and open new avenues for biomedical/environmental science applications.

Peptide Self-assembly into stable Capsid-Like nanospheres and Co-assembly with DNA to produce smart artificial viruses

Smart artificial viruses have been successfully developed by co-assembly of de novo designed peptides with DNA, which achieved stimuli-responsibility and efficient gene transfection in cancer cells. The peptides were designed to incorporate several functional segments, including a hydrophobic aromatic segment to drive self-assembly, two or more cysteines to regulate the assemblage shape and stabilize the assembled nanostructures via forming disulfide bonds, several lysines to facilitate co-assembly with DNA and binding to cell membranes, and an enzyme-cleavable segment to introduce cancer sensitivity. The rationally designed peptides self-assembled into stable nanospheres with a uniform diameter of < 10 nm, which worked as capsid-like subunits to further interact with DNA to produce hierarchical virus-mimicking structures by encapsulating DNA in the interior. Such artificial viruses can effectively protect DNA from nuclease digestion and achieve efficient genome release by enzyme-triggered structure disassembly, which ensured a high level of gene transfection in tumor cells. The system emulates very well the structural and functional properties of natural viruses from the aspects of capsid formation, genome package and gene transfection, which is highly promising for application as efficient gene vectors.

Fabrication of self-assembled nanostructures for intracellular drug delivery from diphenylalanine analogues with rigid or flexible chemical linkers

Self-assembly of molecular building blocks is a simple and useful approach to generate supramolecular structures with varied morphologies and functions. By studying the chemical properties of the building blocks and tuning the parameters of their self-assembly process, the resultant supramolecular assemblies can be optimized for the required downstream applications. To this end, in the present study we have designed and synthesized three different molecular building blocks composed of two diphenylalanine (FF) units connected to each other through three different linkers: ethylenediamine, succinic acid, or terephthalaldehyde. Under identical conditions, all the three building blocks self-assemble into supramolecular architectures with distinct morphologies. However, by varying the polarity of the self-assembly medium, the nature of the non-covalent interactions changes in such a way as to generate additional self-assembled structures unique to each building block. Utilizing microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, we characterized the morphological variety generated by each building block/linker combination. These data represent the first report analysing the diversity of nanostructures that can be generated from identical dipeptide-based molecular backbones simply by varying the chemical linker. We also demonstrate that the spherical assemblies and nanorod structures fabricated from these dipeptide/linker pairs can act as drug delivery systems. More specifically, the spherical assembly generated by two FF dipeptides linked via ethylenediamine and nanorods fabricated from terephthalaldehyde linked FF dipeptides were able to encapsulate the cancer chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) and chaperone the drug into cells. Thus, these supramolecular assemblies represent a new platform for the development of efficient and effective intracellular drug delivery systems.

Exploiting Peptide Self-Assembly for the Development of Minimalistic Viral Mimetics

Viruses are natural supramolecular nanostructures that form spontaneously by molecular self-assembly of complex biomolecules. Peptide self-assembly is a versatile tool that allows mimicking viruses by creating their simplified versions through the design of functional, supramolecular materials with modularity, tunability, and responsiveness to chemical and physical stimuli. The main challenge in the design and fabrication of peptide materials is related to the precise control between the peptide sequence and its resulting supramolecular morphology. We provide an overview of existing sequence patterns employed for the development of spherical and fibrillar peptide assemblies that can act as viral mimetics, offering the opportunity to tackle the challenges of viral infections.

Self-assembly of trigonal building blocks into nanostructures: molecular design and biomedical applications

Trigonal molecules have a special triskelion structure similar to clathrin protein, providing great inspiration for constructing artificial nanoassemblies. To date, various synthetic trigonal conjugates have been designed for supramolecular self-assembly, which have demonstrated versatile and controllable self-assembly ability in materials science. Here we will review the design of trigonal (sometimes called three-legged, tripodal, C3-symmetric, or triskelion) building blocks that can self-assemble into various nanostructures and discuss the biomedical applications of the self-assembled nanomaterials.

Functional Peptide Nanocapsules Self-Assembled from β-Annulus Peptides

Spherical viruses are unique nanocapsules formed by self-assembly of coat proteins (capsids). By mimicking natural spherical capsids, various artificial viral capsids are developed by using self-assembled proteins and peptides as building blocks. We developed an artificial viral capsid consisting of a β-annulus peptide designed from natural viruses. The "β-annulus capsid" can be functionalized by encapsulating guest molecules to the inside and decoration of exogenous molecules on the outside. Here, we describe the encapsulation and decoration on the β-annulus capsids by connecting additional sequences to the β-annulus peptide, conjugation with objective molecules, and subsequent self-assembly in aqueous solutions.

Transition-metal ion-mediated morphological transformation of pyridine-based peptide nanostructures

Pyridine-mediated constitutionally isomeric artificial metallopeptides possess remarkable advantages over the natural counterparts mainly due to their tailor-made chemical structure.

Peptide Nanostructure-Mediated Antibiotic Delivery by Exploiting H2S-Rich Environment in Clinically Relevant Bacterial Cultures

Stimuli-responsive self-destructing soft structures serve as versatile hosts for the encapsulation of guest molecules. A new paradigm for H₂S-responsive structures, based on a modified tripeptide construct, is presented along with microscopy evidence of its time-dependent rupture. As a medicinally interesting application, we employed these commercial antibiotic-loaded soft structures for successful drug release and inhibition of clinically relevant, drug-susceptible, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Soft-Matter Nanotubes: A Platform for Diverse Functions and Applications

Self-assembled organic nanotubes made of single or multiple molecular components can be classified into soft-matter nanotubes (SMNTs) by contrast with hard-matter nanotubes, such as carbon and other inorganic nanotubes. To date, diverse self-assembly processes and elaborate template procedures using rationally designed organic molecules have produced suitable tubular architectures with definite dimensions, structural complexity, and hierarchy for expected functions and applications. Herein, we comprehensively discuss every functions and possible applications of a wide range of SMNTs as bulk materials or single components. This Review highlights valuable contributions mainly in the past decade. Fifteen different families of SMNTs are discussed from the viewpoints of chemical, physical, biological, and medical applications, as well as action fields (e.g., interior, wall, exterior, whole structure, and ensemble of nanotubes). Chemical applications of the SMNTs are associated with encapsulating materials and sensors. SMNTs also behave, while sometimes undergoing morphological transformation, as a catalyst, template, liquid crystal, hydro-/organogel, superhydrophobic surface, and micron size engine. Physical functions pertain to ferro-/piezoelectricity and energy migration/storage, leading to the applications to electrodes or supercapacitors, and mechanical reinforcement. Biological functions involve artificial chaperone, transmembrane transport, nanochannels, and channel reactors. Finally, medical functions range over drug delivery, nonviral gene transfer vector, and virus trap.

Multiplex optical detection and quantification of DNA fragments by metallo-peptide assemblies

Rapid detection of infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses are important for proper health management, agriculture and homeland security. This paper presents a multiplex DNA detection system self-assembled by a metallo-peptide complex. Within five minutes, the system can simultaneously detect multiple DNA fragments, without any need for their separation. The presence of proteins in the sample does not harm the detection capabilities of the system, which can discriminate even between one base-pair mismatch and can perform at concentrations as low as 200 pM.

Hollow Microspherical and Microtubular [3 + 3] Carbazole-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks and Their Gas and Energy Storage Applications

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a family of crystalline porous networks having applications in various fields, including gas and energy storage. Despite respectable progress in the synthesis of such crystalline materials, examples of the use of template-free methods to construct COFs having hollow nano- and microstructures are rare. Furthermore, all reported methods for synthesizing these hollow structural COFs have involved [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] condensations. Herein, we report the synthesis of hollow microspherical and microtubular carbazole-based COFs through template-free, one-pot, [3 + 3] condensations of the novel triamine 9-(4-aminophenyl)-carbazole-3,6-diamine (Car-3NH₂) and triformyl linkers with various degrees of planarity. Depending upon the monomer's planarity, a unique morphological variety was observed. A time-dependent study revealed that each COF formed through an individual mechanism depended on the degree of planarity of the triformyl linker; it also confirmed that the hollow structures of these COFs formed through inside-out Ostwald ripening. Our COFs exhibited high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas (up to ca. 1400 m² g^-1), excellent crystallinity, and high thermal stability. Moreover, the CO₂ uptake capacities of these COFs were excellent: up to 61 and 123 mg g^-1 at 298 and 273 K, respectively. The high surface areas facilitated greater numbers of strong interactions with CO₂ molecules, leading to high CO₂ uptake capacities. Moreover, the prepared COFs exhibited redox activity because of their redox-active triphenylamine and pyridine groups, which can be utilized in electrochemical energy storages. Accordingly, such hollow COFs having high surface areas appear to be useful materials for industrial and biological applications.

Controlled release of hydrogen sulfide significantly reduces ROS stress and increases dopamine levels in transgenic C. elegans

A novel peptide based system has been developed that exhibits slow and sustained H₂S release thereby reducing hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and increasing dopamine levels in a transgenic C. elegans model.

Peptide Nanomaterials Designed from Natural Supramolecular Systems

Natural supramolecular assemblies exhibit unique structural and functional properties that have been optimized over the course of evolution. Inspired by these natural systems, various bio-nanomaterials have been developed using peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids as components. Peptides are attractive building blocks because they enable the important domains of natural protein assemblies to be isolated and optimized while retaining the original structures and functions. Furthermore, the peptide subunits can be conjugated with exogenous molecules such as peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and metal nanoparticles to generate advanced functions. In this personal account, we summarize recent progress in the construction of peptide-based nanomaterial designed from natural supramolecular systems, including (1) artificial viral capsids, (2) self-assembled nanofibers, and (3) protein-binding motifs. The peptides inspired by nature should provide new design principles for bio-nanomaterials.

Matrix metalloproteinase targeted peptide vesicles for delivering anticancer drugs

A matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) targeted tetrapeptide vesicle has been designed and developed, which strongly binds at a MMP9 enzymatic site. Interestingly, it has a propensity to encapsulate and deliver the doxorubicin drug specifically to the cancer cell, induces superior apoptotic death, and inhibits the metastatic cancer cell migration and growth of multicellular 3D spheroids.

Amino Acid Based Self-assembled Nanostructures: Complex Structures from Remarkably Simple Building Blocks

Amino acids are the simplest biological building blocks capable of forming discreet nanostructures by supramolecular self-assembly. The understanding of the process of organization of amino acid nanostructures is of fundamental importance for the study of metabolic diseases as well as for materials science applications. Although peptide self-assembled structures have been the topic of many review articles, much less attention has been devoted to the ability of amino acid building blocks, both natural and synthetic, to form ordered assemblies with defined architectures and notable physical properties, by the process of self-association. Herein, we try to shed light on amino acid based nanostructures, their fabrication and implications. We discuss self-assembled nanostructures, including hydrogels with nanoscale order, obtained from both modified and unmodified single amino acids. We also envision some future prospects in this emerging field.

Designing phenylalanine-based hybrid biological materials: controlling morphology via molecular composition

Harnessing the self-assembly of peptide sequences has demonstrated great promise in the domain of creating high precision shape-tunable biomaterials. The unique properties of peptides allow for a building block approach to material design. In this study, self-assembly of mixed systems encompassing two peptide sequences with identical hydrophobic regions and distinct polar segments is investigated. The two peptide sequences are diphenylalanine and phenylalanine-asparagine-phenylalanine. The study examines the impact of molecular composition (namely, the total peptide concentration and the relative tripeptide concentration) on the morphology of the self-assembled hybrid biological material. We report a rich polymorphism in the assemblies of these peptides and explain the relationship between the peptide sequence, concentration and the morphology of the supramolecular assembly.

Self-Assembly Mechanism of a Peptide-Based Drug Delivery Vehicle

We report the mechanism of the concentration-dependent self-assembly of a tetrapeptide. Peptide Boc-Trp-Leu-Trp-Leu-OMe self-assembles to form discrete nanospheres at a low concentration. Tryptophan side chains point outwards of the nanospheres while leucine side chains point towards the core of the nanospheres. The nanospheres fuse together to become microspheres with the increase in the peptide concentration. At higher concentrations of the peptide, the microspheres start clustering. This is stabilized by the aromatic interactions between the side chains of the tryptophan residues that cover the outer surface of the peptide microspheres. In addition to behaving like the conventional hollow sphere-based drug delivery vehicles which entraps the drug and performs stimuli-responsive release, this prototype can interact, stabilize, and intercalate hydrophobic dye carboxyfluorescein and anti-cancer drug curcumin even on the surface through aromatic interactions. The dye/drug can be released in acidic pH and in the presence of physiologically relevant ions such as potassium.

Synthetic approaches to construct viral capsid-like spherical nanomaterials

This feature article describes recent progress in synthetic strategies to construct viral capsid-like spherical nanomaterials using the self-assembly of peptides and/or proteins.

Hollow polymer nanocapsules: synthesis, properties, and applications

Hollow polymer nanocapsules (HPNs) have gained tremendous interest in recent years due to their numerous desirable properties compared to their solid counterparts.

Biotin–avidin interaction triggers conversion of triskelion peptide nanotori into nanochains

Triskelion biotinylated peptide is self-assembled into nanotorus structures followed by dimerization and chain formation in the presence of avidin.

Continual reproduction of self-assembling oligotriazole peptide nanomaterials

Autocatalytic chemical reactions, whereby a molecule is able to catalyze its own formation from a set of precursors, mimic nature’s ability to generate identical copies of relevant biomolecules, and are thought to have been crucial for the origin of life. While several molecular autocatalysts have been previously reported, coupling autocatalytic behavior to macromolecular self-assembly has been challenging. Here, we report a non-enzymatic and chemoselective methodology capable of autocatalytically producing triskelion peptides that self-associate into spherical bioinspired nanostructures. Serial transfer experiments demonstrate that oligotriazole autocatalysis successfully leads to continual self-assembly of three-dimensional nanospheres. Triskelion-based spherical architectures offer an opportunity to organize biomolecules and chemical reactions in unique, nanoscale compartments. The use of peptide-based autocatalysts that are capable of self-assembly represents a promising method for the development of self-synthesizing biomaterials, and may shed light on understanding life’s chemical origins.

Molecules that act as both autocatalysts and material precursors offer exciting prospects for self-synthesizing materials. Here, the authors design a triazole peptide that self-replicates and then self-assembles into nanostructures, coupling autocatalytic and assembly pathways to realize a reproducing supramolecular system.

Self-assembling soft structures for intracellular NO release and promotion of neurite outgrowth

Nitric oxide (NO), an endogenously produced free radical species, is an extremely important signalling molecule in several biochemical processes related to neurotransmission, neuronal communication, and vasodilation, to name a few. Other than relying on endogenous synthesis, intracellular NO delivery presents an interesting challenge to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of this gaseous molecule. We have applied a self-assembling peptide conjugate strategy to devise a construct carrying a NO-release arm, which can be activated under standard redox conditions. Consequently, a tryptophan-based peptide carrier was designed, which self-assembled in the solution phase to afford soft nanospherical structures, and released NO in Neuro2a cell line, resulting in neurite outgrowth.

Branched Amphipathic Peptide Capsules: Different Ratios of the Two Constituent Peptides Direct Distinct Bilayer Structures, Sizes, and DNA Transfection Efficiency

Branched amphipathic peptide capsules (BAPCs) are biologically derived, bilayer delimited, nanovesicles capable of being coated by or encapsulating a wide variety of solutes. The vesicles and their cargos are readily taken up by cells and become localized in the perinuclear region of cells. When BAPCs are mixed with DNA, the BAPCs act as cationic nucleation centers around which DNA winds. The BAPCs-DNA nanoparticles are capable of delivering plasmid DNA in vivo and in vitro yielding high transfection rates and minimal cytotoxicity. BAPCs share several biophysical properties with lipid vesicles. They are however considerably more stable-resisting disruption in the presence of chaotropes such as urea and guanidinium chloride, anionic detergents, proteases, and elevated temperature (∼95 °C). To date, all of our published results have utilized BAPCs that are composed of equimolar concentrations of the two branched sequences (Ac-FLIVI)₂-K-K₄-CO-NH₂ and (Ac-FLIVIGSII)₂-K-K₄-CO-NH₂. The mixture of sizes was utilized to relieve potential curvature strain in the spherical capsule. In this article, different molar ratios of the two peptides were studied to test whether alternate ratios produced BAPCs with different biological and biophysical properties. Additionally, preparation (annealing) temperature was included as a second variable.

Vesicles: self-assembly beyond biological lipids

This review presents an overview of synthetic systems that self-assemble to form vesicles.

Synergistic Anticancer Effect of Peptide-Docetaxel Nanoassembly Targeted to Tubulin: Toward Development of Dual Warhead Containing Nanomedicine

Microtubule dynamics play a crucial role in cancer cell division. Various drugs are developed to target microtubule. Although a few of them show potential in treatment of cancer, but success rate is limited due to their poor bioavailability and lack of specificity. Thus, development of highly bioavailable and target specific anticancer drug is extremely necessary. To address these key issues, here, a combination of approaches such as development of a dodecapeptide-docetaxel nanoassembly targeted to tubulin and MUC1 (mucin 1, cell surface associated glycoprotein) targeting oligonucleotide aptamer conjugated liposome for delivering peptide-docetaxel nanoassembly into the breast cancer cell have been demonstrated. These studies reveal that the peptide forms nanoassembly and entraps docetaxel drug. Further, the liposomal formulation of peptide-docetaxel exerts synergistic anticancer effect, activates key mitotic check point proteins, and inhibits bipolar spindle formation, metastatic cancer cell migration, and growth of tumor mimicking 3D multicellular spheroid.

Emergent Behaviors in Kinetically Controlled Dynamic Self-Assembly of Synthetic Molecular Systems

Living systems are categorically a kinetic state of matter that exhibits complex functions and emergent behaviors. By contrast, synthetic systems are relatively simple and are typically controlled by the thermodynamic parameters. To understand this inherent difference between the biological and synthetic systems, novel approaches are of vital importance. In this regard, we have designed a three-component molecular system (a triad) by conjugating an amino acid with two functional molecules (naphthalenediimide and pyrene), which facilitates kinetically controlled self-assemblies. Herein, we describe three different molecular aggregation states of triads (entitled State I, State II, and State III) and also the dynamic pathway complexities associated with their transformations from one state to another. By meticulously employing the triads of different molecular aggregation states and the stereochemical information of the amino acid, we report emergent behaviors termed "supramolecular speciation" and "supramolecular regulation". Further, we present a hitherto unknown emergent property in a self-assembled state under the majority-rules experiment, which has been termed "super-nonlinearity". This work provides novel insights into complex synthetic systems having unprecedented functions and properties. Such emergent behaviors of synthetic triads that involve an interplay among complex interactions may find relevance in the context of prebiotic chemical evolution.

Controlling the Physical Dimensions of Peptide Nanotubes by Supramolecular Polymer Coassembly

Molecular self-assembly of peptides into ordered nanotubes is highly important for various technological applications. Very short peptide building blocks, as short as dipeptides, can form assemblies with unique mechanical, optical, piezoelectric, and semiconductive properties. Yet, the control over nanotube length in solution has remained challenging, due to the inherent sequential self-assembly mechanism. Here, in line with polymer chemistry paradigms, we applied a supramolecular polymer coassembly methodology to modulate peptide nanotube elongation. Utilizing this approach, we achieved a narrow, controllable nanotube length distribution by adjusting the molecular ratio of the diphenylalanine assembly unit and its end-capped analogue. Kinetic analysis suggested a slower coassembly organization process as compared to the self-assembly dynamics of each of the building blocks separately. This is consistent with a hierarchal arrangement of the peptide moieties within the coassemblies. Mass spectrometry analysis demonstrated the bimolecular composition of the coassembled nanostructures. Moreover, the peptide nanotubes' length distribution, as determined by electron microscopy, was shown to fit a fragmentation kinetics model. Our results reveal a simple and efficient mechanism for the control of nanotube sizes through the coassembly of peptide entities at various ratios, allowing for the desired end-product formation. This dynamic size control offers tools for molecular engineering at the nanoscale exploiting the advantages of molecular coassembly.

Spontaneous Formation of a Vesicular Assembly by a Trimesic Acid Based Triple Tailed Amphiphile

Trimesic acid based amino acid functionalized triple tailed amphiphiles (TMA-1 and TMA-2) were synthesized. The triskelion amphiphile TMA-1 with a neutral side chain self-assembled into a vesicle in 2:1 (v/v) DMSO-water, while the ammonium side chain decorated TMA-2 formed vesicles in pure water. Microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations were carried out to confirm the self-aggregated vesicular morphology and its size which is around 250-300 nm in the case of TMA-1 and around 100-150 nm for TMA-2 vesicles. The unique structure of these amphiphiles with an aromatic core and three hydrophilic side chains led to an interlamellar orientation of their hydrophobic (aromatic) domain, while hydrophilic terminals were directed toward the aqueous domain. These amphiphiles formed monolayered vesicles possibly through H-aggregation during the process of self-assembly, which is different from conventional bilayered vesicles formed by twin-chain lipid molecules. The time resolved decay curve of hydrophobic dye entrapped within these vesicles indicated that the hydrophobicity within the microenvironment of TMA-1 and TMA-2 vesicles is higher than that in pure water; however, at the same time, it is comparatively lower than that observed in bilayered phosphocholine vesicles. Furthermore, calcein dye was entrapped within these vesicles to ensure their encapsulation efficiency (65-85%). The ability to entrap dye molecules by these synthesized vesicles was utilized to encapsulate and deliver anticancer drug doxorubicin inside the mammalian cells. A simple synthetic procedure and facile aggregation to vesicular self-assembly with superior dye/drug encapsulation proficiency made these vesicles a potential cellular transporter.

Structural and morphological diversity of self-assembled synthetic γ-amino acid containing peptides

We report the synthesis of constrained amino acid building block gabapentin (Gpn) based hybrid peptides and their structural and morphological diversity in different conditions.

Self-assembled peptide microspheres for sustainable release of sulfamethoxazole

Porous peptide microspheres have been used for the loading and sustained release of the bacteriostatic antibiotic sulfamethoxazole.

Exploring structural features of folded peptide architectures in the construction of nanomaterials

Supramolecular assemblies of conformationally biased α,γ-hybrid peptides composed of alternating α-Phe and 4,4-dimethyl substituted γ-amino acids are investigated.

Thermoplasmonic effect of silver nanoparticles modulates peptide amphiphile fiber into nanowreath-like assembly

This study demonstrates the beneficial role of di-tryptophan containing short peptide amphiphiles (sPA), for the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs in the presence of sunlight followed by garlanding of AgNPs along the fibrous network of sPA. Such hybrid structures were precisely and selectively moulded into a nanowreath-type morphology due to the thermoplasmonic effect of AgNPs, and can be used for several bio-nanotechnological applications.

Label-free, optical sensing of the supramolecular assembly into fibrils of a ditryptophan-DNA hybrid

The grafting of a short nucleic acid strand to ditryptophan dipeptide (WW) results in a peptide-DNA hybrid, which assembles into fibrils under controlled aggregation conditions as evidenced by label free optical sensing owing to the intrinsic fluorescence of the dipeptide.

Microstructure manipulation and guest release from cation responsive peptide microspheres

A thiolated C₃-symmetric dihistidine conjugate and its self-assembly to yield nanospheres. Doughnut shaped, porous microspheres formed upon co-incubation with ATP that can be triggered to release cargo in response to cationic stimulus.

Fabrication of gold nanoparticles on biotin-di-tryptophan scaffold for plausible biomedical applications

AuNPs were synthesized and encapsulated by spherical scaffold of biotinylated di-tryptophan and such devices can be used for plausible biomedical applications.