SELF-ASSEMBLING PEPTIDES BEARING ORGANIC ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONALITY AND APPLICATIONS EMPLOYING THE SAME

摘要

The aqueous self-assembly of oligopeptide-flanked p-conjugated molecules into discrete one-dimensional nanostructures is described. Unique to these molecules is the fact that the p-conjugated unit has been directly embedded within the peptide backbone by way of a synthetic amino acid with p-functionality that is compatible with standard Fmoc-based peptide synthesis or by way of a diacid or other bis(electrophile) that can covalently cross-link peptide chains presented on a synthesis support. The peptide-based molecular designs enforce intimate p- p communication within the aggregates after charge-screening and self-assembly, making these nanostructures attractive for optical or electronic applications in biological environments. In other embodiments, a convenient method to incorporate p-electron units into peptides that assemble into amyloid-like supramolecular polymers is disclosed. Self-assembly manipulates these "electronic peptides" into delocalized sub-10 nm one dimensional (1-D) nanostructures under completely aqueous conditions.