title: Hierarchical, interface-induced self-assembly of diphenylalanine: formation of peptide nanofibers and microvesicles.
abstract: To gain insight into the hierarchical self-assembly of peptides and the surface effect on assembly formation, an aromatic peptide of diphenylalanine (FF) was used in this study as the model peptide. We found that the diphenylalanine peptide could self-assemble into a core-branched nanostructure through non-covalent interactions in aqueous solution. The pre-assemblies further assembled into nanofibers and microvesicles on the glass surface and microporous membrane, respectively, showing a significant dependence on surface characteristics. The structural and morphological differences between nanofibers and microvesicles were investigated directly using several spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. Our results revealed a hierarchical and interface-induced assembly behavior of diphenylalanine peptide. The novel strategy based on the surface effect allows one to controllably fabricate various peptide-based nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Renliang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Rongxin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004151:Dipeptides; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008863:Microspheres; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D010455:Peptides; D012996:Solutions; C026650:phenylalanylphenylalanine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D002244:Carbon