pH-Induced conversion of bolaamphiphilic vesicles to reduction-responsive nanogels for enhanced Nile Red and Rose Bengal delivery.

This study details the preparation and investigation of molecular nanogels formed by the self-assembly of bolaamphiphilic dipeptide derivatives containing a reduction-sensitive disulfide unit. The described bolaamphiphiles, featuring amino acid terminal groups, generate cationic vesicles at pH 4, which evolve into gel-like nanoparticles at pH 7. The critical aggregation concentration has been determined, and the nanogels' size and morphology have been characterized through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy reveals substantial molecular reconfigurations accompanying the pH shift. These nanogels enhance the in vitro cellular uptake of the lipophilic dye Nile Red and the ionic photosensitizer Rose Bengal into Human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells, eliminating the need for organic co-solvents in the former case. Fluorescence measurements with Nile Red as a probe indicate the reduction-sensitive disassembly of the nanogels. In photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications, Rose Bengal-loaded nanogels demonstrate notable improvements, with flow cytometry analysis evidencing increased apoptotic activity in the study with HT-29 cells.

Chirality and pH Influence the Self-Assembly of Antimicrobial Lipopeptides with Diverse Nanostructures.

Chirality plays a crucial role in the self-assembly of biomolecules in nature. Peptides show chirality-dependent conformation and self-assembly. Lipidation of peptides occurs in vivo and has recently been exploited in designed conjugates to drive self-assembly and enhance bioactivity. Here, a library of pH-responsive homochiral and heterochiral lipidated tripeptides has been designed. The designed lipopeptides comprise homochiral C16-YKK or C16-WKK (where all the amino acids are l-isomers), and two heterochiral conjugates C16-Ykk and C16-Wkk (where the two lysines are d-isomers). The self-assembly of all the synthesized lipopeptides in aqueous solution was examined using a combination of spectroscopic methods along with cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Interestingly, it was observed that at acidic pH all the lipopeptides self-assemble into micelles, whereas at basic pH the homochiral lipopeptides self-assemble into nanofibers, whereas the heterochiral lipopeptides self-assemble into nanotapes and nanotubes. A pH switch was demonstrated using a thioflavin T fluorescence probe of ß-sheet structure present in the extended structures at pH 8. We demonstrate that both chirality and pH in lipopeptides influence the self-assembly behavior of the model tripeptides, which also show promising bioactivity. Good cytocompatibility is observed in hemolytic assays and antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria is shown through the determination of minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values and live/dead bacteria staining assay.

Exploring the Use of a Lipopeptide in Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Monolayers for Enhanced Detection of Glyphosate in Aqueous Environments.

The growing reliance on pesticides for pest management in agriculture highlights the need for new analytical methods to detect these substances in food and water. Our research introduces a SPRWG-(C18H37) lipopeptide (LP) as a functional analog of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for glyphosate detection in environmental samples using phosphatidylcholine (PC) monolayers. This LP, containing hydrophilic amino acids linked to an 18-carbon aliphatic chain, alters lipid assembly properties, leading to a more flexible system. Changes included reduced molecular area and peak pressure in Langmuir adsorption isotherms. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses provided insights into the LP's structural organization within the membrane and its interaction with glyphosate (PNG). Structural and geometric parameters, as derived from in silico molecular dynamics simulations (MD), substantiated the impact of LP on the monolayer structure and the interaction with PNG. Notably, the presence of the LP and glyphosate increased charge transfer resistance, indicating strong adherence of the monolayer to the indium tin oxide (ITO) surface and effective pesticide interaction. A calibration curve for glyphosate concentration adjustment revealed a detection limit (LOD) of 24 nmol L-1, showcasing the high sensitivity of this electrochemical biosensor. This LOD is significantly lower than that of a similar colorimetric biosensor in aqueous media with a detection limit of approximately 0.3 µmol L-1. Such an improvement in sensitivity likely stems from adding a polar residue to the amino acid chain of the LP.

Cyclodextrin-Induced Suppression of PEG Crystallization from the Melt in a PEG-Peptide Conjugate.

The influence of alpha-cyclodextrin (αCD) on PEG crystallization is examined for a peptide-PEG conjugate, YYKLVFF-PEG3k comprising an amyloid peptide YYKLVFF linked to PEG with molar mass 3 kg mol-1. Remarkably, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and simultaneous synchrotron small-angle/wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) show that crystallization of PEG is suppressed by αCD, provided that the cyclodextrin content is sufficient. A hexagonal mesophase is formed instead. The αCD threading reduces the conformational flexibility of PEG, and hence suppresses crystallization. These results show that addition of cyclodextrins can be used to tune the crystallization of peptide-polymer conjugates and potentially other polymer/biomolecular hybrids.

Comparison of the self-assembly and cytocompatibility of conjugates of Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) with hydrophobic, aromatic, or charged amino acids.

The self-assembly in aqueous solution of three Fmoc-amino acids with hydrophobic (aliphatic or aromatic, alanine or phenylalanine) or hydrophilic cationic residues (arginine) is compared. The critical aggregation concentrations were obtained using intrinsic fluorescence or fluorescence probe measurements, and conformation was probed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Self-assembled nanostructures were imaged using cryo-transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Fmoc-Ala is found to form remarkable structures comprising extended fibril-like objects nucleating from spherical cores. In contrast, Fmoc-Arg self-assembles into plate-like crystals. Fmoc-Phe forms extended structures, in a mixture of straight and twisted fibrils coexisting with nanotapes. Spontaneous flow alignment of solutions of Fmoc-Phe assemblies is observed by SAXS. The cytocompatibility of the three Fmoc-amino acids was also compared via MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] mitochondrial activity assays. All three Fmoc-amino acids are cytocompatible with L929 fibroblasts at low concentration, and Fmoc-Arg shows cell viability up to comparatively high concentration (0.63 mM).

Self-Assembly and Antimicrobial Activity of Lipopeptides Containing Lysine-Rich Tripeptides.

The conformation and self-assembly of two pairs of model lipidated tripeptides in aqueous solution are probed using a combination of spectroscopic methods along with cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The palmitoylated lipopeptides comprise C16-YKK or C16-WKK (with two l-lysine residues) or their respective derivatives containing d-lysine (k), i.e., C16-Ykk and C16-Wkk. All four molecules self-assemble into spherical micelles which show structure factor effects in SAXS profiles due to intermicellar packing in aqueous solution. Consistent with micellar structures, the tripeptides in the coronas have a largely unordered conformation, as probed using spectroscopic methods. The molecules are found to have good cytocompatibility with fibroblasts at sufficiently low concentrations, although some loss of cell viability is noted at the highest concentrations examined (above the critical aggregation concentration of the lipopeptides, determined from fluorescence dye probe measurements). Preliminary tests also showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Self-Assembly and Cytocompatibility of Amino Acid Conjugates Containing a Novel Water-Soluble Aromatic Protecting Group.

There has been considerable interest in peptides in which the Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) protecting group is retained at the N-terminus, since this bulky aromatic group can drive self-assembly, and Fmoc-peptides are biocompatible and have applications in cell culture biomaterials. Recently, analogues of new amino acids with 2,7-disulfo-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Smoc) protecting groups have been developed for water-based peptide synthesis. Here, we report on the self-assembly and biocompatibility of Smoc-Ala, Smoc-Phe and Smoc-Arg as examples of Smoc conjugates to aliphatic, aromatic, and charged amino acids, respectively. Self-assembly occurs at concentrations above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC). Cryo-TEM imaging and SAXS reveal the presence of nanosheet, nanoribbon or nanotube structures, and spectroscopic methods (ThT fluorescence circular dichroism and FTIR) show the presence of ß-sheet secondary structure, although Smoc-Ala solutions contain significant unaggregated monomer content. Smoc shows self-fluorescence, which was used to determine CAC values of the Smoc-amino acids from fluorescence assays. Smoc fluorescence was also exploited in confocal microscopy imaging with fibroblast cells, which revealed its uptake into the cytoplasm. The biocompatibility of these Smoc-amino acids was found to be excellent with zero cytotoxicity (in fact increased metabolism) to fibroblasts at low concentration.

Effect of molar ratio and concentration on the rheological properties of two-component supramolecular hydrogels: tuning of the morphological and drug releasing behaviour.

Self-assembled supramolecular hydrogels offer great potential as biomaterials and drug delivery systems. Specifically, peptide-based multicomponent hydrogels are promising materials due to their advantage that their mechanical and physical properties can be tuned to enhance their functionalities and broaden their applications. Herein, we report two-component assembly and formation of hydrogels containing inexpensive complementary anionic, BUVV-OH (A), and cationic, KFFC12 (B), peptide amphiphiles. Individually, neither of these components formed a hydrogel, while mixtures with compositions 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 (molar ratio) as A : B show hydrogel formation (Milli-Q water, at pH = 6.79). These hydrogels displayed a good shear-thinning behaviour with different mechanical stabilities and nano-fibrous network structures. The 1 : 1 hydrogel shows good cell viability for human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells and CHO cells indicating its non-cytotoxicity. The biocompatible, thixotropic 1 : 1 hydrogel with a nanofiber network structure shows the highest mechanical strength with a storage modulus of 3.4 × 103 Pa. The hydrogel is able to encapsulate drugs including antibiotics amoxicillin and rifampicin, and anticancer drug doxorubicin, and it exhibits sustainable release of 76%, 70%, and 81% respectively in vitro after 3 days. The other two mixtures (composition 1 : 2 and 2 : 1) are unable to form a hydrogel when they are loaded with these drugs. Interestingly, it is noticed that with an increase in concentration, the mechanical strength of a 1 : 1 hydrogel is significantly enhanced, showing potential that may act as a scaffold for tissue engineering. The two-component gel offers tunable mechanical properties, thixotropy, injectability, and biocompatibility and has great potential as a scaffold for sustained drug release and tissue engineering.

Tuning the Solution Self-Assembly of a Peptide-PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) Conjugate with α-Cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrins are saccharide ring molecules which act as host cavities that can encapsulate small guest molecules or thread polymer chains. We investigate the influence of alpha-cyclodextrin (αCD) on the aqueous solution self-assembly of a peptide-polymer conjugate YYKLVFF-PEG3K previously studied by our group [Castelletto et al., Polym. Chem., 2010, 1, 453-459]. This conjugate comprises a designed amyloid-forming peptide YYKLVFF that contains the KLVFF sequence from Amyloid ß peptide, Aß16-20, along with two aromatic tyrosine residues to enhance hydrophobicity, as well as polyethylene glycol PEG with molar mass 3 kg mol-1 . The conjugate self-assembles into ß-sheet fibrils in aqueous solution. Here we show that complexation with αCD instead generates free-floating nanosheets in aqueous solution (with a ß-sheet structure). The nanosheets comprise a bilayer with a hydrophobic peptide core and highly swollen PEG outer layers. The transition from fibrils to nanosheets is driven by an increase in the number of αCD molecules threaded on the PEG chains, as determined by 1 H NMR spectroscopy. These findings point to the use of cyclodextrin additives as a powerful means to tune the solution self-assembly in peptide-polymer conjugates and potentially other polymer/biomolecular hybrids.

Small-angle scattering techniques for peptide and peptide hybrid nanostructures and peptide-based biomaterials.

The use of small-angle scattering (SAS) in the study of the self-assembly of peptides and peptide conjugates (lipopeptides, polymer-peptide conjugates and others) is reviewed, highlighting selected research that illustrates different methods and analysis techniques. Both small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) are considered along with examples that exploit their unique capabilities. For SAXS, this includes the ability to perform rapid measurements enabling high throughput or fast kinetic studies and measurements under dilute conditions. For SANS, contrast variation using H2O/D2O mixtures enables the study of peptides interacting with lipids and TR-SANS (time-resolved SANS) studies of exchange kinetics and/or peptide-induced structural changes. Examples are provided of studies measuring form factors of different self-assembled structures (micelles, fibrils, nanotapes, nanotubes etc) as well as structure factors from ordered phases (lyotropic mesophases), peptide gels and hybrid materials such as membranes formed by mixing peptides with polysaccharides or peptide/liposome mixtures. SAXS/WAXS (WAXS: wide-angle x-ray scattering) on peptides and peptide hybrids is also discussed, and the review concludes with a perspective on potential future directions for research in the field.

DNA-templated self-assembly of bradykinin into bioactive nanofibrils.

Bradykinin (BK) is a peptide hormone that plays a crucial role in blood pressure control, regulates inflammation in the human body, and has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. In this study, we report a strategy for fabricating highly ordered 1D nanostructures of BK using DNA fragments as a template for self-assembly. We have combined synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and high-resolution microscopy to provide insights into the nanoscale structure of BK-DNA complexes, unveiling the formation of ordered nanofibrils. Fluorescence assays hint that BK is more efficient at displacing minor-groove binders in comparison with base-intercalant dyes, thus, suggesting that interaction with DNA strands is mediated by electrostatic attraction between cationic groups at BK and the high negative electron density of minor-grooves. Our data also revealed an intriguing finding that BK-DNA complexes can induce a limited uptake of nucleotides by HEK-293t cells, which is a feature that has not been previously reported for BK. Moreover, we observed that the complexes retained the native bioactivity of BK, including the ability to modulate Ca2+ response into endothelial HUVEC cells. Overall, the findings presented here demonstrate a promising strategy for the fabrication of fibrillar structures of BK using DNA as a template, which keep bioactivity features of the native peptide and may have implications in the development of nanotherapeutics for hypertension and related disorders.

Effect of Glycosylation on Self-Assembly of Lipid A Lipopolysaccharides in Aqueous Solutions.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) based on lipid A produced by bacteria are of interest due to their bioactivity in stimulating immune responses, as are simpler synthetic components or analogues. Here, the self-assembly in water of two monodisperse lipid A derivatives based on simplified bacterial LPS structures is examined and compared to that of a native Escherichia coli LPS using small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The critical aggregation concentration is obtained from fluorescence probe experiments, and conformation is probed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The E. coli LPS is found to form wormlike micelles, whereas the synthetic analogues bearing six lipid chains and with four or two saccharide head groups (Kdo2-lipid A and monophosphoryl lipid A) self-assemble into nanosheets or vesicles, respectively. These observations are rationalized by considering the surfactant packing parameter.

Self-assembled aggregates based on cationic amphiphilic peptides: structural insight.

Short and ultra-short peptides have recently emerged as suitable building blocks for the fabrication of self-assembled innovative materials. Peptide aggregation is strictly related to the amino acids composing the sequence and their capability to establish intermolecular interactions. Additional structural and functional properties can also be achieved by peptide derivatization (e.g. with polymeric moieties, alkyl chains or other organic molecules). For instance, peptide amphiphiles (PAs), containing one or more alkyl tails on the backbone, have a propensity to form highly ordered nanostructures like nanotapes, twisted helices, nanotubes and cylindrical nanostructures. Further lateral interactions among peptides can also promote hydrogelation. Here we report the synthesis and the aggregation behaviour of four PAs containing cationic tetra- or hexa-peptides (C19-VAGK, C19-K1, C19-K2 and C19-K3) derivatized with a nonadecanoic alkyl chain. In their acetylated (Ac-) or fluorenylated (Fmoc-) versions, these peptides previously demonstrated the ability to form biocompatible hydrogels potentially suitable as extracellular matrices for tissue engineering or diagnostic MRI applications. In the micromolar range, PAs self-assemble in aqueous solution into nanotapes, or small clusters, resulting in high biocompatibility on HaCat cells up to 72 hours of incubation. Moreover, C19-VAGK also forms a gel at a concentration of 5 wt%.

Histidine-Containing Amphiphilic Peptide-Based Non-Cytotoxic Hydrogelator with Antibacterial Activity and Sustainable Drug Release.

A histidine-based amphiphilic peptide (P) has been found to form an injectable transparent hydrogel in phosphate buffer solution over a pH range from 7.0 to 8.5 with an inherent antibacterial property. It also formed a hydrogel in water at pH = 6.7. The peptide self-assembles into a nanofibrillar network structure which is characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction. The hydrogel exhibits efficient antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration of the hydrogel ranges from 20 to 100 µg/mL. The hydrogel is capable of encapsulation of the drugs naproxen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), amoxicillin (an antibiotic), and doxorubicin, (an anticancer drug), but, selectively and sustainably, the gel releases naproxen, 84% being released in 84 h and amoxicillin was released more or less in same manner with that of the naproxen. The hydrogel is biocompatible with HEK 293T cells as well as NIH (mouse fibroblast cell line) cells and thus has potential as a potent antibacterial and drug releasing agent. Another remarkable feature of this hydrogel is its magnification property like a convex lens.

Mpemba effect in crystallization of polybutene-1.

The Mpemba effect and its inverse can be understood as a result of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. In polymers, changes of state are generally non-equilibrium processes. However, the Mpemba effect has been rarely reported in the crystallization of polymers. In the melt, polybutene-1 (PB-1) has the lowest critical cooling rate in polyolefins and tends to maintain its original structure and properties with thermal history. A nascent PB-1 sample was prepared by using metallocene catalysis at low temperature, and the crystallization behavior and crystalline structure of the PB-1 were characterized by DSC and WAXS. Experimentally, a clear Mpemba effect is observed not only in the crystallization of the nascent PB-1 melt in form II but also in form I obtained from the nascent PB-1 at low melting temperature. It is proposed that this is due to the differences in the chain conformational entropy in the lattice which influence conformational relaxation times. The entropy and the relaxation time can be predicted using the Adam-Gibbs equations, whereas non-equilibrium thermodynamics is required to describe the crystallization with the Mpemba effect.

Self-Assembly, Bioactivity, and Nanomaterials Applications of Peptide Conjugates with Bulky Aromatic Terminal Groups.

The self-assembly and structural and functional properties of peptide conjugates containing bulky terminal aromatic substituents are reviewed with a particular focus on bioactivity. Terminal moieties include Fmoc [fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl], naphthalene, pyrene, naproxen, diimides of naphthalene or pyrene, and others. These provide a driving force for self-assembly due to π-stacking and hydrophobic interactions, in addition to the hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and other forces between short peptides. The balance of these interactions leads to a propensity to self-assembly, even for conjugates to single amino acids. The hybrid molecules often form hydrogels built from a network of ß-sheet fibrils. The properties of these as biomaterials to support cell culture, or in the development of molecules that can assemble in cells (in response to cellular enzymes, or otherwise) with a range of fascinating bioactivities such as anticancer or antimicrobial activity, are highlighted. In addition, applications of hydrogels as slow-release drug delivery systems and in catalysis and other applications are discussed. The aromatic nature of the substituents also provides a diversity of interesting optoelectronic properties that have been demonstrated in the literature, and an overview of this is also provided. Also discussed are coassembly and enzyme-instructed self-assembly which enable precise tuning and (stimulus-responsive) functionalization of peptide nanostructures.

Cell Adhesion Motif-Functionalized Lipopeptides: Nanostructure and Selective Myoblast Cytocompatibility.

The conformation and self-assembly of four lipopeptides, peptide amphiphiles comprising peptides conjugated to lipid chains, in aqueous solution have been examined. The peptide sequence in all four lipopeptides contains the integrin cell adhesion RGDS motif, and the cytocompatibility of the lipopeptides is also analyzed. Lipopeptides have either tetradecyl (C14, myristyl) or hexadecyl (C16, palmitoyl) lipid chains and peptide sequence WGGRGDS or GGGRGDS, that is, with either a tryptophan-containing WGG or triglycine GGG tripeptide spacer between the bioactive peptide motif and the alkyl chain. All four lipopeptides self-assemble above a critical aggregation concentration (CAC), determined through several comparative methods using circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence. Spectroscopic methods [CD and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy] show the presence of ß-sheet structures, consistent with the extended nanotape, helical ribbon, and nanotube structures observed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The high-quality cryo-TEM images clearly show the coexistence of helically twisted ribbon and nanotube structures for C14-WGGRGDS, which highlight the mechanism of nanotube formation by the closure of the ribbons. Small-angle X-ray scattering shows that the nanotapes comprise highly interdigitated peptide bilayers, which are also present in the walls of the nanotubes. Hydrogel formation was observed at sufficiently high concentrations or could be induced by a heat/cool protocol at lower concentrations. Birefringence due to nematic phase formation was observed for several of the lipopeptides, along with spontaneous flow alignment of the lyotropic liquid crystal structure in capillaries. Cell viability assays were performed using both L929 fibroblasts and C2C12 myoblasts to examine the potential uses of the lipopeptides in tissue engineering, with a specific focus on application to cultured (lab-grown) meat, based on myoblast cytocompatibility. Indeed, significantly higher cytocompatibility of myoblasts was observed for all four lipopeptides compared to that for fibroblasts, in particular at a lipopeptide concentration below the CAC. Cytocompatibility could also be improved using hydrogels as cell supports for fibroblasts or myoblasts. Our work highlights that precision control of peptide sequences using bulky aromatic residues within "linker sequences" along with alkyl chain selection can be used to tune the self-assembled nanostructure. In addition, the RGDS-based lipopeptides show promise as materials for tissue engineering, especially those of muscle precursor cells.

Micelle and Nanotape Formation of Benzene Tricarboxamide Analogues with Selective Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity.

Analogues of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide bearing combinations of different alkyl chains (dodecyl to octadecyl) and ester-linked PEG (polyethylene glycol) chains are shown to self-assemble into either micelles or nanotapes in aqueous solution, depending on the architecture (number of alkyl vs PEG chains). The cytotoxicity to cells is selectively greater for breast cancer cells than fibroblast controls in a dose-dependent manner. The compounds show strong stability, retaining their self-assembled structures at low pH (relevant to acidic tumor conditions) and in buffer and cell culture media.

Amino acid containing amphiphilic hydrogelators with antibacterial and antiparasitic activities.

Nanoscale self-assembly of peptide constructs represents a promising means to present bioactive motifs to develop new functional materials. Here, we present a series of peptide amphiphiles which form hydrogels based on ß-sheet nanofibril networks, several of which have very promising anti-microbial and anti-parasitic activities, in particular against multiple strains of Leishmania including drug-resistant ones. Aromatic amino acid based amphiphilic supramolecular gelators C14-Phe-CONH-(CH2)n-NH2 (n = 6 for P1 and n = 2 for P3) and C14-Trp-CONH-(CH2)n-NH2 (n = 6 for P2 and n = 2 for P4) have been synthesized and characterized, and their self-assembly and gelation behaviour have been investigated in the presence of ultrapure water (P1, P2, and P4) or 2% DMSO(v/v) in ultrapure water (P3). The rheological, morphological and structural properties of the gels have been comprehensively examined. The amphiphilic gelators (P1 and P3) were found to be active against both Gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Interestingly, amphiphiles P1 and P3 containing an L-phenylalanine residue show both antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. Herein, we report that synthetic amphiphiles with an amino acid residue exhibit a potent anti-protozoan activity and are cytotoxic towards a wide array of protozoal parasites, which includes Indian varieties of Leishmania donovani and also kill resistant parasitic strains including BHU-575, MILR and CPTR cells. These gelators are highly cytotoxic to promastigotes of Leishmania and trigger apoptotic-like events inside the parasite. The mechanism of killing the parasite is shown and these gelators are non-cytotoxic to host macrophage cells indicating the potential use of these gels as therapeutic agents against multiple forms of leishmaniasis in the near future.

Interaction between glyphosate pesticide and amphiphilic peptides for colorimetric analysis.

The large-scale use of glyphosate pesticides in food production has attracted attention due to environmental damage and toxicity risks. Several regulatory authorities have established safe limits or concentrations of these pesticides in water and various food products consumed daily. The irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is one of the strategies used for pesticide detection. Herein, we found that lipopeptide sequences can act as biomimetic microenvironments of AChE, showing higher catalytic activities than natural enzymes in an aqueous solution, based on IC50 values. These biomolecules contain in the hydrophilic part the amino acids l-proline (P), l-arginine (R), l-tryptophan (W), and l-glycine (G), covalently linked to a hydrophobic part formed by one or two long aliphatic chains. The obtained materials are referred to as compounds 1 and 2, respectively. According to fluorescence assays, 2 is more hydrophobic than 1. The circular dichroism (CD) data present a significant difference in the molar ellipticity values, likely related to distinct conformations assumed by the proline residue in the lipopeptide supramolecular structure in solution. The morphological aspect was further characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), which showed that compounds 1 and 2 self-assembly into cylindrical and planar core-shell structures, respectively. The mimetic AchE behaviour of lipopeptides was confirmed by Ellman's hydrolysis reaction, where the proline residue in the peptides act as a nucleophilic scavenger of organophosphate pesticides. Moreover, the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments revealed that host-guest interactions in both systems were dominated by enthalpically-driven thermodynamics. UV-vis kinetic experiments were performed to assess the inhibition of the lipopeptide catalytic activity and the IC50 values were obtained, and we found that the detection limit correlated with the increase in hydrophobicity of the lipopeptides, implying the micellization process is more favorable.