Self-assembled aggregates based on cationic amphiphilic peptides: structural insight

Rosa, E., Diaferia, C., De Mello, L., Seitsonen, J., Hamley, I. W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4549-0926 and Accardo, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7899-2359 (2023) Self-assembled aggregates based on cationic amphiphilic peptides: structural insight. Soft Matter, 19 (25). pp. 4686-4696. ISSN 1744-6848 doi: 10.1039/d3sm00363a

Abstract/Summary

Short and ultra-short peptides have recently emerged as suitable building blocks for the fabrication of self-assembled innovative materials. Peptide aggregation is strictly related to the amino acids composing the sequence and their capability to establish intermolecular interactions. Additional structural and functional properties can also be achieved by peptide derivatization (e.g. with polymeric moieties, alkyl chains or other organic molecules). For instance, peptide amphiphiles (PAs), containing one or more alkyl tails on the backbone, have a propensity to form highly ordered nanostructures like nanotapes, twisted helices, nanotubes and cylindrical nanostructures. Further lateral interactions among peptides can also promote hydrogelation. Here we report the synthesis and the aggregation behaviour of four PAs containing cationic tetra- or hexa-peptides (C19-VAGK, C19-K1, C19-K2 and C19-K3) derivatized with a nonadecanoic alkyl chain. In their acetylated (Ac-) or fluorenylated (Fmoc-) versions, these peptides previously demonstrated the ability to form biocompatible hydrogels potentially suitable as extracellular matrices for tissue engineering or diagnostic MRI applications. In the micromolar range, PAs self-assemble in aqueous solution into nanotapes, or small clusters, resulting in high biocompatibility on HaCat cells up to 72 hours of incubation. Moreover, C19-VAGK also forms a gel at a concentration of 5 wt%.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/112356
Identification Number/DOI	10.1039/d3sm00363a
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry
Uncontrolled Keywords	Condensed Matter Physics, General Chemistry
Publisher	Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
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