Designing stable, hierarchical peptide fibers from block co-polypeptide sequences. Issue 39 (14th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Rijt, Mark M. J.; Ciaffoni, Adriano; Ianiro, Alessandro; Moradi, Mohammad-Amin; Boyle, Aimee L.; Kros, Alexander; Friedrich, Heiner; Sommerdijk, Nico A. J. M.; Patterson, Joseph P.
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 10:Issue 39(2019)
• Page Start: 9001
• Page End: 9008
• Publication Date: 2019-08-14
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9sc00800d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : Here we report the pH induced self-assembly of equilibrium zwitterionically charged block co-polypeptide nanotubes into hierarchical nanotube fibers. Abstract : Natural materials, such as collagen, can assemble with multiple levels of organization in solution. Achieving a similar degree of control over morphology, stability and hierarchical organization with equilibrium synthetic materials remains elusive. For the assembly of peptidic materials the process is controlled by a complex interplay between hydrophobic interactions, electrostatics and secondary structure formation. Consequently, fine tuning the thermodynamics and kinetics of assembly remains extremely challenging. Here, we synthesized a set of block co polypeptides with varying hydrophobicity and ability to form secondary structure. From this set we select a sequence with balanced interactions that results in the formation of high-aspect ratio thermodynamically favored nanotubes, stable between pH 2 and 12 and up to 80 °C. This stability permits their hierarchical assembly into bundled nanotube fibers by directing the pH and inducing complementary zwitterionic charge behavior. This block co-polypeptide design strategy, using defined sequences, provides a straightforward approach to creating complex hierarchical peptide-based assemblies with tunable interactions.