Organogels Based on Self-Assembly of Diphenylalanine Peptide and Their Application To Immobilize Quantum Dots

Abstract

We report that a single dipeptide (L-Phe-L-Phe, FF), which is probably one of the smallest peptide gelators, can self-assemble into long nanofibrils in organic solvents and entangle further to form gels. The obtained FF gels are responsive to temperature, and the FF sol-gel process is thermoreversible. The formation of such gels may be driven by the hydrogen bond of peptide main chains and the π-π interactions between aromatic residues of the peptide. Lipophilic nanocrystals can be encapsulated into the gel through gelating the organic solution of corresponding nanocrystals using the FF gelator at room temperature. Quantum dots (QDs) are encapsulated into the FF gel by adopting the above method. The resulting gels with the incorporated QDs still remain photoluminescent (PL). It is an effective method to protect QDs from oxidation and improve the stability of the QDs. This strategy is generally suited for encapsulation of lipophilic nanocrystals.

Self-assembly of diphenylalanine with preclick components as capping groups

“…conformation. 65,66 In all cases these structural characteristics are preserved between -50 ºC and +60 ºC, as is demonstrated by the spectra acquired at different temperatures within such interval ( Figure S3). …”

High stability of self‐assembled peptide nanowires against thermal, chemical, and proteolytic attacks

“…There have been numerous attempts to develop self-assembling peptides since the early 1990s (Ghadiri et al, 1993;Hartgerink et al, 2001;Reches and Gazit, 2003). Among many synthetic peptide building blocks reported to date, diphenylalanine (FF), which constitutes the core recognition motif of Alzheimer's b-amyloid peptide, is one of the simplest peptides, and it self-assembles into many different nanostructures from nanotubes (Reches and Gazit, 2003) to organogels (Yan et al, 2008). Researchers also found that self-assembled diphenylalanine nanostructures possess novel mechanical (Kol et al, 2005;Niu et al, 2007), electrochemical (Yemini et al, 2005), and optical properties ).…”

Mineralization of Self‐assembled Peptide Nanofibers for Rechargeable Lithium Ion Batteries

“…[ 16 , 17 ] Among numerous self-assembling peptides reported to date, diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe, FF) and its derivatives [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] are simplest peptides exhibiting unique mechanical, [ 19 ] electrochemical, [ 20 ] and optical properties [ 21 ] as well as high thermal and chemical stabilities. [ 23 ] It has been reported that they can readily form various nanostructures, including nanotubes, [18][19][20][21][22] nanowires, [23][24][25][26][27] nanospheres, [ 28 ] organogels, [ 29 ] and hydrogels [ 30 ] through a self-assembly process. Here, we fi rst report the synthesis of transition metal phosphate nanotubes for application as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium (Li) ion batteries by using a peptide hydrogel self-assembled from fl uorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-FF [ 30 ] as a template.…”