title: Peptide-based spherulitic films--formation and properties.
abstract: Peptide nanotube-based spherulitic films are a recently discovered phenomenon, which was demonstrated in the case of the self-assembled diphenylalanine peptide nanotubes. Here we show that the film-formation method can be implemented with other peptides. We also demonstrate that a critical physical parameter, an elevated level of environmental hydration, is required for film growth. A possible formation mechanism is suggested. The optical, morphological and mechanical properties of these films are characterized and are found to be substantially different from those of non-spherulitic deposits.
authors.affiliation: The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, School of Chemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sidelman
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Shachar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D006813:Humidity; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides