Self-Assembled Arginine-Capped Peptide Bolaamphiphile Nanosheets for Cell Culture and Controlled Wettability Surfaces.
The spontaneous assembly of a peptide bolaamphiphile in water, namely, RFL4FR (R, arginine; F, phenylalanine; L, leucine) is investigated, along with its novel properties in surface modification and usage as substrates for cell culture. RFL4FR self-assembles into nanosheets through lateral association of the peptide backbone. The L4 sequence is located within the core of the nanosheets, whereas the R moieties are exposed to the water at the surface of the nanosheets. Kinetic assays indicate that the self-assembly is driven by a remarkable two-step process, where a nucleation phase is followed by fast growth of nanosheets with an autocatalysis process. The internal structure of the nanosheets is formed from ultrathin bolaamphiphile monolayers with a crystalline orthorhombic symmetry with cross-β organization. We show that human corneal stromal fibroblast (hCSF) cells can grow on polystyrene films coated with films dried from RFL4FR solutions. For the first time, this type of amphiphilic peptide is used as a substrate to modulate the wettability of solid surfaces for cell culture applications.
Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC , Santo André 09210-580, Brazil.|Department of Chemistry, University of Reading , Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, United Kingdom.
Emerson Rodrigo
ER
da Silva
Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life , Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom.
Merlin Nathaniel Mark
MN
Walter
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science , P.O. Box 15100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
Mehedi
M
Reza
Department of Chemistry, University of Reading , Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, United Kingdom.
Valeria
V
Castelletto
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science , P.O. Box 15100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
Janne
J
Ruokolainen
Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life , Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom.
Che John
CJ
Connon
Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC , Santo André 09210-580, Brazil.
Wendel Andrade
WA
Alves
Department of Chemistry, University of Reading , Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, United Kingdom.
Ian William
IW
Hamley
D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D017155:Wettability; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D010455:Peptides; D001120:Arginine