Organic and inorganic self-assembled tubular nanostructures were suggested to have key potential in nanotechnological devices and applications. Several studies have shown the possible use of bionanometric material for applications ranging from molecular electronic to drug delivery. The diphenylalanine peptide, the core recognition motif of the Alzheimer`s Beta-amyloid polypeptide, efficiently self-assembles into discrete, well-ordered peptide nanotubes.
In the current research, using different microscopy and spectroscopy tools, we describe a remarkable thermal and chemical stability of the aromatic-dipeptide-nanostructures [ADNS]. Furthermore, we studied the peptide nanotubes and nano-spheres mechanical properties and found that the peptide nanospheres have high Young’s modulus of up to 275 GPa, which places these peptide nano-assemblies among the stiffest bio-inspired materials presently known.
A limiting factor in the utilization of the ADNS system was the ability to spatially control the assembly process. Various methodologies were developed for the horizontal and vertical alignment of the ADNS and for their patterning. We used the inkjet technology for the application of ADNS on non-biological surfaces. Additionally, vapor-deposition technique was used to form vertically aligned nanotubes arrays that were later utilized for the formation of super-hydrophobic surface, sensitive sensors and ultracapacitors for energy storage applications.
In summary, the remarkable physical properties and the ability to control the assembly of the ADNS suggests their application in conventional microelectronic and microelectromechanics processes, as well as fabrication into functional nanotechnological devices.
References:
Adler-Abramovich, L. & Gazit, E. J. Pept. Sci. 14, 217-223 (2008)
Adler-Abramovich, L. et al. Nat. Nanotechnol. 4, 849-854 (2009)
Adler-Abramovich, L. et al. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 49, 9939-9942, (2010)
Adler-Abramovich, L. et al. Nat. Chem. Biol. 8, 701-706 (2012)
lihia@tauex.tau.ac.il
