Dip-pen patterning and surface assembly of peptide amphiphiles.
This paper presents results on controlling the surface morphology of evaporation-driven self-assembly of peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofibers by dip-pen nanolithography. These PA nanofibers, which measure only a few nanometers in diameter, can be oriented perpendicularly to the receding edge of a solution. Dragging a meniscus of PA ink with an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip creates reproducibly aligned arrays of isolated and close-packed PA nanofiber patterns on silicon substrates, utilizing surface coating of poly(ethylene glycol) to suppress the self-assembly of nanofibers on AFM tips. We also demonstrate the ability to construct double-layer patterns of differing nanofiber orientations at the same position. This result could be important in producing a complex, multilayer pattern of these peptide-based supramolecular nanostructures.
Jiang
Hongzhou
H
Stupp
Samuel I
SI
D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
D010455:Peptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols