Bioinspired Reductionistic Peptide Engineering for Exceptional Mechanical Properties.

ABSTRACT: A simple solution-processing and self-assembly approach that exploits the synergistic interactions between multiple hydrogen bonded networks and aromatic interactions was utilized to synthesize molecular crystals of cyclic dipeptides (CDPs), whose molecular weights (~0.2 kDa) are nearly three orders of magnitude smaller than that of natural structural proteins (50-300 kDa). Mechanical properties of these materials, measured using the nanoindentation technique, indicate that the stiffness and strength are comparable and sometimes better than those of natural fibres. The measured mechanical responses were rationalized by recourse to the crystallographic structural analysis and intermolecular interactions in the self-assembled single crystals. With this work we highlight the significance of d

SUBMITTER: Avinash MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4630637 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature