Self-assembly of cytotoxic peptide amphiphiles into supramolecular membranes for cancer therapy.

ABSTRACT: Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) provide a versatile platform for the design of complex and functional material constructs for biomedical applications. The hierarchical self-assembly of PAs with biopolymers is used to create robust hybrid membranes with molecular order on the micron scale. Fabrication of membranes by assembling hyaluronic acid with positively charged PA nanostructures containing anti-cancer PAs bearing a (KLAKLAK)(2) peptide sequence is reported here. Changes in membrane microstructure as the positively charged PA nanostructures vary from cylindrical nanofibers to spherical aggregates are characterized. Results indicate that formation of highly aligned fibrous membranes requires a threshold concentration of nanofibers in solution. Additionally, variation of PA nanostructure morp

SUBMITTER: Zha RH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3680364 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature