T-shaped Peptide Amphiphiles Self Assemble into Nanofiber Networks

Title:T-shaped Peptide Amphiphiles Self Assemble into Nanofiber Networks

Volume: 5 Issue: 3

Author(s): Funmilola A. Fisusi, Rebecca Notman, Louis A. Granger, John P. Malkinson, Andreas G. Schatzlein and Ijeoma F. Uchegbu*

Affiliation:

• UCL School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square London, WC1N 1AX,United Kingdom

Keywords: Beta sheet, drug delivery, molecular dynamics simulations, nanofibers, networks, peptide amphiphiles, peptide synthesis, self-assemblies.

Abstract: Background: Conventional nanofiber forming peptide amphiphiles comprise a beta sheet forming, short peptide sequence with an alkyl chain attached at one terminus. We report the selfassembly of a peptide amphiphile possessing a mid-chain located alkyl substituent (a T-shaped peptide amphiphile) into nanofiber networks.

Method: Peptide synthesis was carried out using standard 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl solid phase peptide synthesis protocols, followed by covalent attachment of the alkyl chains to yield target peptide amphiphiles. Self-assembly was then studied using electron microscopy and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.

Results: T-shaped peptide amphiphiles self-assembled into nanofibers just like linear peptide amphiphiles, but then unlike linear peptide amphiphiles, T-shaped peptide amphiphiles formed inter-fiber associations and ultimately nanofiber networks.

Conclusion: Changing the position of the alkyl chain in a peptide amphiphile from the terminal end of the peptide to the middle part of the peptide, to form a T-shaped peptide amphiphile, does not disrupt the molecular interactions required for the self-assembly of the peptide amphiphiles into nanofibers.

Cite this article as:

Fisusi A. Funmilola , Notman Rebecca , Granger A. Louis , Malkinson P. John , Schatzlein G. Andreas and Uchegbu F. Ijeoma *, T-shaped Peptide Amphiphiles Self Assemble into Nanofiber Networks, Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology 2017; 5 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211738505666170828095937