Template adaptability is key in the oriented crystallization of CaCO3.

In CaCO3, biomineralization nucleation and growth of the crystals are related to the presence of carboxylate-rich proteins within a macromolecular matrix, often with organized beta-sheet domains. To understand the interplay between the organic template and the mineral crystal it is important to explicitly address the issue of structural adaptation of the template during mineralization. To this end we have developed a series of self-organizing surfactants (1-4) consisting of a dodecyl chain connected via a bisureido-heptylene unit to an amino acid head group. In Langmuir monolayers the spacing of these molecules in one direction is predetermined by the hydrogen-bonding distances between the bis-urea units. In the other direction, the intermolecular distance is determined by steric interactions introduced by the side groups (-R) of the amino acid moiety. Thus, by the choice of the amino acid we can systematically alter the density of the surfactant molecules in a monolayer and their ability to respond to the presence of calcium ions. The monolayer films are characterized by surface pressure-surface area (pi-A) isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, in-situ synchrotron X-ray scattering at fixed surface area, and also infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) of films transferred to solid substrates. The developing crystals are studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and crystal modeling. The results demonstrate that although all compounds are active in the nucleation of calcium carbonate, habit modification is only observed when the size of the side group allows the molecules to rearrange and adapt their organization in response to the mineral phase.

The bis-urea motif as a tool to functionalize self-assembled nanoribbons.

Here we present a surfactant molecule (1) containing an ammonium headgroup, in which a bis-ureido group is incorporated in its hydrocarbon chain. Due to strong hydrogen bonding interactions, 1 forms well-defined highly ordered ribbon-like aggregates in water. Moreover, we demonstrate that these ribbons can be functionalized via a modular approach through molecular recognition of other bis-urea containing molecules. The dye disperse orange and biotin were coupled to matching bis-ureido groups and incorporated into the ribbon structure. The anchoring of different functionalities in a modular approach proved to be possible using the molecular recognition capabilities of the bis-ureido moiety, thereby opening possibilities to a wide range of applications.