Spin coating mediated morphology modulation in self assembly of peptides

Advancements in self-assembling peptides: Bridging gaps in 3D cell culture and electronic device fabrication

Self-assembling peptides (SAPs) show promise in creating synthetic microenvironments that regulate cellular function and tissue repair. Also, the precise π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding within self-assembled peptide structures enable the creation of quantum confined structures, leading to reduced band gaps and the emergence of semiconductor properties within the superstructures. This review emphasizes the need for standardized 3D cell culture methods and electronic devices based on SAPs for monitoring cell communication and controlling cell surface morphology. Additionally, the gap in understanding the relationship between SAP peptide sequences and nanostructures is highlighted, underscoring the importance of optimizing peptide deposition parameters, which affect charge transport and bioactivity due to varying morphologies. The potential of peptide nanofibers as extracellular matrix mimics and the introduction of the zone casting method for improved film deposition are discussed within this review, aiming to bridge knowledge gaps and offer insights into fields like tissue engineering and materials science, with the potential for groundbreaking applications at the interface of biology and materials engineering.

Durability studies of underwater superoleophobic graphene oxide coated wire mesh

Due to the increased industrial oily wastewater, developing a successful oil/water separation mechanism is a ubiquitous challenge. As oil/water separation is an interfacial phenomenon, a straightforward way is to utilize the special wettability of novel materials towards oil and water. In this work, we intend to construct a durable membrane/mesh that can have a selective response towards oil and water based on the difference in surface tension. Graphene oxide (GO) is one such material that exhibits in-air hydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. GO-coated wire meshes can act as membranes with excellent efficiency for oil/water separation, but they lack long-term durability for repeated use under different environments. We created GO*-coated wire meshes by dip coating multiple layers of GO with intermediate air plasma treatment. While the multiple steps of coating ensured complete coverage of the mesh with GO, plasma treatment improved the binding of the GO coating to the wire mesh. After coating five GO layers, the mesh is subjected to mild plasma treatment to improve the porosity. The GO*-coated mesh is extremely hydrophilic in air, and the underwater oil contact angles (CA) are ≥125° for different oils. To test the long-term durability, the GO*-coated mesh is continuously immersed underwater in acidic and basic media, and the underwater oil CA is measured at different immersion times. The initial durability results are very promising and show that the GO*-coated mesh retains a significant level of underwater oleophobicity even after 60 days of continuous immersion in water.