The aqueous self-assembly of oligopeptide-flanked π-conjugated molecules into discrete one-dimensional nanostructures is described. Unique to these molecules is the fact that the π-conjugated unit has been directly embedded within the peptide backbone by way of a synthetic amino acid with π-functionality that is compatible with standard Fmoc-based peptide synthesis or by way of a diacid or other bis(electrophile) that can covalently cross-link peptide chains presented on a synthesis support. The peptide-based molecular designs enforce intimate π-π communication within the aggregates after charge-screening and self-assembly, making these nanostructures attractive for optical or electronic applications in biological environments. In other embodiments, a convenient method to incorporate π-electron units into peptides that assemble into amyloid-like supramolecular polymers is disclosed. Self-assembly manipulates these “electronic peptides” into delocalized sub-10 nm one dimensional (1-D) nanostructures under completely aqueous conditions.
本文介绍了寡肽-π共轭分子在
水相中自组装成离散一维纳米结构的过程。这些分子的独特之处在于,π共轭单元直接嵌入到寡肽骨架中,通过合成具有π功能的
氨基酸,该
氨基酸与标准的Fmoc基肽合成兼容,或通过二酸或其他双(亲电子)与合成支撑上呈现的肽链共价交联。寡肽分子的设计在电荷屏蔽和自组装后强制实现聚集体内部的亲-亲作用,使这些纳米结构在
生物环境中具有光学或电子应用的吸引力。在其他实施例中,本文还揭示了一种将π电子单元方便地纳入到聚集成类淀粉样超分子聚合物的寡肽中的方法。自组装将这些“电子寡肽”操纵成分散的亚10纳米一维(1-D)纳米结构,在完全
水相条件下实现。