title: The role of self-assembling polypeptides in building nanomaterials.
abstract: Polypeptides are functional biomolecules that play a key role in life science, where they can act as hormones and signaling molecules. They can self-assemble into a variety of nanostructures, including two dimensional (2D) lamellae, one dimensional (1D) nanofibrils and nanotubes, and zero dimensional (0D) nanospheres. The driving force behind these advanced nanomaterials involves weak non-covalent interactions that include hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Here we discuss each of the interactions in relation to self-assembly and provide examples of some novel applications in engineering materials, tissue engineering and nanoelectronics. The overall aim is to provide a comprehensive, yet easily accessible review of the known nanomaterials produced by self-assembling polypeptides, which may lead to the construction of more advanced polypeptide nanostructures for future applications.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Ny Munkegade 118, Building 152, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Busuttil
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yanliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besenbacher
authors.forename: Mingdong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides