The incorporation of a network of molecular interactions that guide the formation of stable supramolecular structures in a controlled system is of high interest in the field of biomaterials. New strategies to control the dynamic self-assembly pathway and to selectively stabilize supramolecular structures are needed. The current study focuses on using a dynamic covalent network of dithiolane molecules to stabilize the formation and morphologies of supramolecular fibers. Preliminary results of lipoic acid conjugated peptide assemblies showed spectroscopic variations and differences in the β-sheet formation of the supramolecular structures depending on assembly conditions. To gain a better understanding of how a network of interchanging covalent interactions affects the stability and assembly of these supramolecular structures, we synthesized a second generation of 1,2-dithiolane modified peptides with asparagusic acid. We will test to see if asparagusic acid modified peptide will be more responsive to environmental changes as it does not contain a long hydrocarbon linker region, like the lipoic acid modified peptide, that potentially interferes with β-sheet formation. The assembly of the asparagusic modified peptide will be characterized using Transmission Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Infrared Spectroscopy.

Effect of 1,2-dithiolane modifications on peptide self-assemblies

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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