The creation of high aspect-ratio nanostructures through the self-assembly of oligopeptides has been a versatile strategy toward functional materials. In particular, the assembly of very short peptides (four amino acids or less) has attracted interest in efforts to achieve maximal function with minimal material. Yet, such assemblies are often best described in phenomenological terms. Here, we explore a series of tripeptides to generate a variety of nanostructures that are dependent on sequence, and further uncover the design rules governing assembly of these short peptides. In addition, we evaluate the attachment of short peptide segments to discotic or metal-chelating prosthetic groups to achieve materials with assembly governed by their peptide substituents in concert with non-peptidic recognition motifs. This combination of interactions furthermore leads to interesting pathway dependence in the final assembly, yielding structural diversity across scales. Finally, we demonstrate the formation of heterogeneous supramolecular nanostructures by supramolecular speciation upon mixing of oligopeptides with opposing charge. The geometric landscape afforded minimal sequences, combined with attention to the thermodynamic pathway of assembly, leads to a diversity of nanostructures and materials with tunable and controllable properties from the nanoscale to the mesoscale.

Self-assembly of short peptides and peptide-aromatic conjugates

2019 Spring National Meeting

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