biostudies-literatureBuettner CJNational Cancer InstituteNCI NIH HHS5220-5226https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6432923biostudies-literatureUnknown15(24)While the influence of alkyl chain length and headgroup size on self-assembly behaviour has been well-established for simple surfactants, the rational control over the pH- and concentration-dependent self-assembly behaviour in stimuli responsive peptides remains an elusive goal. Here, we show that different amphiphilic peptides can have similar self-assembly phase diagrams, providing the relative strengths of the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced. Using palmitoyl-YYAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH₂ and palmitoyl-YAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH₂ as controls, we show that reducing hydrophobic attractive forces through fewer methylene groups in the alkyl chain will lead to a similar self-assembly phase diagram as increasing the electrostatic repulsive forces via the addition of a gluOrganic & biomolecular chemistryBalancing the intermolecular forces in peptide amphiphiles for controlling self-assembly transitions.PMC6432923P30 CA016058P30 CA013148P30CA016058Ghosh ABuettner CJNicholl MJTweedle MFGoldberger JEOk SWallace AJManos AAfalseBalancing the intermolecular forces in peptide amphiphiles for controlling self-assembly transitions.While the influence of alkyl chain length and headgroup size on self-assembly behaviour has been well-established for simple surfactants, the rational control over the pH- and concentration-dependent self-assembly behaviour in stimuli responsive peptides remains an elusive goal. Here, we show that different amphiphilic peptides can have similar self-assembly phase diagrams, providing the relative strengths of the attractive and repulsive forces are balanced. Using palmitoyl-YYAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH₂ and palmitoyl-YAAEEEEK(DO3A:Gd)-NH₂ as controls, we show that reducing hydrophobic attractive forces through fewer methylene groups in the alkyl chain will lead to a similar self-assembly phase diagram as increasing the electrostatic repulsive forces via the addition of a glu2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Jun2025-06-01T03:59:08.465Z2025-06-01T03:59:08.465ZS-EPMC64329232859404610.1039/c7ob00875a