Effect of Peptide Sequences on Supramolecular Interactions of Naphthaleneimide/Tripeptide Conjugates

• Published in: Langmuir 2016-08, Vol.32 (30), p.7630-7638
• Main Authors: Yeh, Mei-Yu, Huang, Ching-Ting, Lai, Tsung-Sheng, Chen, Fang-Yi, Chu, Nien-Tzu, Tseng, Dion Tzu-Huan, Hung, Shih-Chieh, Lin, Hsin-Chieh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Interface-Rich Materials and Assemblies
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b01809

In this study, we reported a significant difference in the supramolecular hydrogelation of newly discovered NI-GFF (NI-Gly-l-Phe-l-Phe) and NI-FFG (NI-l-Phe-l-Phe-Gly) on the basis of their phase diagrams. With a small difference in the peptide chain between NI-GFF and NI-FFG, we observed a significant difference in their self-assembly properties; NI-GFF formed a stable gel at neutral pH, whereas NI-FFG did not, under the same conditions. From spectroscopic and computational studies, intermolecular π–π interactions and extended hydrogen bonding interactions might reinforce the intermolecular interactions of NI-GFF, which may facilitate the formation of the self-assembled nanostructures and the hydrogel. In addition, the aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active NI-GFF reveals relatively good biocompatibility compared with that of NI-FFG for two commonly used cell lines, suggesting that it is a promising candidate for use as a supramolecular material in biomedical applications. Our results highlight the importance of tripeptide sequences in a self-assembling hydrogel system.