ABSTRACT
In a stack of atomically thin van der Waals layers, introducing interlayer twist creates a moiré superlattice whose period is a function of twist angle. Changes in that twist angle of even hundredths of a degree can dramatically transform the system's electronic properties. Setting a precise and uniform twist angle for a stack remains difficult; hence, determining that twist angle and mapping its spatial variation is very important. Techniques have emerged to do this by imaging the moiré, but most of these require sophisticated infrastructure, time-consuming sample preparation beyond stack synthesis, or both. In this work, we show that torsional force microscopy (TFM), a scanning probe technique sensitive to dynamic friction, can reveal surface and shallow subsurface structure of van der Waals stacks on multiple length scales: the moirés formed between bi-layers of graphene and between graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and also the atomic crystal lattices of graphene and hBN. In TFM, torsional motion of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilever is monitored as it is actively driven at a torsional resonance while a feedback loop maintains contact at a set force with the sample surface. TFM works at room temperature in air, with no need for an electrical bias between the tip and the sample, making it applicable to a wide array of samples. It should enable determination of precise structural information including twist angles and strain in moiré superlattices and crystallographic orientation of van der Waals flakes to support predictable moiré heterostructure fabrication.
ABSTRACT
HYPOTHESIS: While soil water repellency causes a variety of undesirable environmental effects, the underlying mechanism is unknown. We investigate the coupled effects of chemical characteristics and surface topology in a simple model system of two lipids, DSPE (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) and DOPE (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine), and a clay substrate. These closely-related lipids allowed the study of how a small change in chemical structure influences the surface hydrophobicity. EXPERIMENTS: Techniques ranging from molecular (simulations) to nanoscopic (atomic force microscopy) to microscopic (fluorescence microscopy) to macroscopic (contact angle measurements) were used to explore interactions at all length scales. The wettability was assessed from initial contact angle and time-dependent changes in droplet shape. FINDINGS: The lipid distribution depended on the lipid's melting temperature: solid lipids did not spread evenly through the film, while liquid ones did. However, the initial contact angle did not change appreciably with the addition of DSPE or DOPE. Only DSPE heated above its melting temperature induced significant changes. In addition to the initial contact angle, quantitative variables extracted from the change in droplet shape over time correlated with the film topography or lipid distribution. These results define a new quantitative approach to investigating partially-wettable soils and provide a potential rationale for why clays can remediate water-repellent soils.
ABSTRACT
Despite recent advances in the assembly of organic nanotubes, conferral of sequence-defined engineering and dynamic response characteristics to the tubules remains a challenge. Here we report a new family of highly designable and dynamic nanotubes assembled from sequence-defined peptoids through a unique "rolling-up and closure of nanosheet" mechanism. During the assembly process, amorphous spherical particles of amphiphilic peptoid oligomers crystallize to form well-defined nanosheets before folding to form single-walled nanotubes. These nanotubes undergo a pH-triggered, reversible contraction-expansion motion. By varying the number of hydrophobic residues of peptoids, we demonstrate tuning of nanotube wall thickness, diameter, and mechanical properties. Atomic force microscopy-based mechanical measurements show peptoid nanotubes are highly stiff (Young's Modulus ~13-17 GPa). We further demonstrate the precise incorporation of functional groups within nanotubes and their applications in water decontamination and cellular adhesion and uptake. These nanotubes provide a robust platform for developing biomimetic materials tailored to specific applications.
Subject(s)
Nanotubes/chemistry , Peptoids/chemistry , Protein Folding , Protein Multimerization , A549 Cells , Crystallography, X-Ray , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Microscopy, Atomic Force , Microscopy, Confocal , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Nanotubes/ultrastructure , Peptidomimetics/chemistry , Water/chemistryABSTRACT
Water within and surrounding the structure of a biological system adopts context-specific dynamics that mediate virtually all of the events involved in the inner workings of a cell. These events range from protein folding and molecular recognition to the formation of hierarchical structures. Water dynamics are mediated by the chemistry and geometry of interfaces where water and biomolecules meet. Here we investigate experimentally and computationally the translational dynamics of vicinal water molecules within the volume of a supramolecular peptide nanofiber measuring 6.7 nm in diameter. Using Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization relaxometry, we show that drastic differences exist in water motion within a distance of about one nanometer from the surface, with rapid diffusion in the hydrophobic interior and immobilized water on the nanofiber surface. These results demonstrate that water associated with materials designed at the nanoscale is not simply a solvent, but rather an integral part of their structure and potential functions.
ABSTRACT
Two-step nucleation pathways in which disordered, amorphous, or dense liquid states precede the appearance of crystalline phases have been reported for a wide range of materials, but the dynamics of such pathways are poorly understood. Moreover, whether these pathways are general features of crystallizing systems or a consequence of system-specific structural details that select for direct versus two-step processes is unknown. Using atomic force microscopy to directly observe crystallization of sequence-defined polymers, we show that crystallization pathways are indeed sequence dependent. When a short hydrophobic region is added to a sequence that directly forms crystalline particles, crystallization instead follows a two-step pathway that begins with the creation of disordered clusters of 10-20 molecules and is characterized by highly non-linear crystallization kinetics in which clusters transform into ordered structures that then enter the growth phase. The results shed new light on non-classical crystallization mechanisms and have implications for the design of self-assembling polymer systems.
Subject(s)
Biomimetic Materials/chemistry , Models, Chemical , Models, Molecular , Peptidomimetics/chemistry , Crystallization , KineticsABSTRACT
The nanostructures of self-assembling biomaterials have been previously designed to tune the release of growth factors in order to optimize biological repair and regeneration. We report here on the discovery that weakly cohesive peptide nanostructures in terms of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, when combined with low concentrations of osteogenic growth factor, enhance both BMP-2 and Wnt mediated signaling in myoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells, respectively. Conversely, analogous nanostructures with enhanced levels of internal hydrogen bonding and cohesion lead to an overall reduction in BMP-2 signaling. We propose that the mechanism for enhanced growth factor signaling by the nanostructures is related to their ability to increase diffusion within membrane lipid rafts. The phenomenon reported here could lead to new nanomedicine strategies to mediate growth factor signaling for translational targets.
Subject(s)
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism , Membrane Microdomains/drug effects , Nanofibers/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Animals , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Line , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Humans , Hydrogen Bonding , Kinetics , Membrane Microdomains/physiology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/drug effects , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Mice , Myoblasts/cytology , Myoblasts/drug effects , Myoblasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis , Particle Size , Protein Conformation, beta-Strand , Signal Transduction , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
By means of two supramolecular systems--peptide amphiphiles engaged in hydrogen-bonded ß-sheets, and chromophore amphiphiles driven to assemble by π-orbital overlaps--we show that the minima in the energy landscapes of supramolecular systems are defined by electrostatic repulsion and the ability of the dominant attractive forces to trap molecules in thermodynamically unfavourable configurations. These competing interactions can be selectively switched on and off, with the order of doing so determining the position of the final product in the energy landscape. Within the same energy landscape, the peptide-amphiphile system forms a thermodynamically favoured product characterized by long bundled fibres that promote biological cell adhesion and survival, and a metastable product characterized by short monodisperse fibres that interfere with adhesion and can lead to cell death. Our findings suggest that, in supramolecular systems, functions and energy landscapes are linked, superseding the more traditional connection between molecular design and function.
Subject(s)
Myoblasts/metabolism , Peptides/chemistry , Thermodynamics , Animals , Cell Adhesion , Cell Line , Mice , Myoblasts/cytology , Protein Structure, Secondary , Static ElectricityABSTRACT
Tissue regeneration and development involves highly synchronized signals both between cells and with the extracellular environment. Biomaterials can be tuned to mimic specific biological signals and control cell response(s). As a result, these materials can be used as tools to elucidate cell signaling pathways and candidate molecules involved with cellular processes. In this work, we explore enamel-forming cells, ameloblasts, which have a limited regenerative capacity. By exposing undifferentiated cells to a self-assembling matrix bearing RGDS epitopes, we elicited a regenerative signal at will that subsequently led to the identification of thrombospondin 2 (TSP2), an extracellular matrix protein that has not been previously recognized as a key player in enamel development and regeneration. Targeted disruption of the thrombospondin 2 gene (Thbs2) resulted in enamel formation with a disordered architecture that was highly susceptible to wear compared to their wild-type counterparts. To test the regenerative capacity, we injected the bioactive matrix into the enamel organ and discovered that the enamel organic epithelial cells in TSP-null mice failed to polarize on the surface of the artificial matrix, greatly reducing integrin ß1 and Notch1 expression levels, which represent signaling pathways known to be associated with TSP2. These results suggest TSP2 plays an important role in regulating cell-matrix interactions during enamel formation. Exploiting the signaling pathways activated by biomaterials can provide insight into native signaling mechanisms crucial for tooth development and cell-based strategies for enamel regeneration.
Subject(s)
Ameloblasts/metabolism , Dental Enamel/physiology , Guided Tissue Regeneration/methods , Nanofibers/chemistry , Regeneration/physiology , Thrombospondins/metabolism , Ameloblasts/cytology , Ameloblasts/transplantation , Animals , Dental Enamel/cytology , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Thrombospondins/geneticsABSTRACT
We describe in this work the synthesis of microparticles with a doxorubicin drug conjugated alginate core and a shell of peptide amphiphile nanofibres functionalized for targeting the folate receptor. The spherical geometry of the particle core allows high drug loading per surface area, whereas the nanoscale fibrous shell formed by self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles offers a high surface to volume ratio that is ideal for targeting. The synthesised microparticles have a 60-fold higher cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells compared to non-targeting particles.
ABSTRACT
Charged nanoscale filaments are well-known in natural systems such as filamentous viruses and the cellular cytoskeleton. The unique properties of these structures have inspired the design of self-assembled nanofibers for applications in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and catalysis, among others. We report here on an amphiphile of completely different chemistry based on azobenzene and a quaternary ammonium bromide headgroup that self-assembles into highly charged nanofibers in water and orders into two-dimensional crystals. Interestingly small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) shows that these fibers of 5.6 nm cross-sectional diameter order into crystalline arrays with remarkably large interfiber spacings of up to 130 nm. Solution concentration and temperature can be adjusted to control the interfiber spacings, and addition of salt destroyed the crystal packing indicating the electrostatic repulsions are necessary for the observed ordering. Our findings here demonstrate the universal nature of this phenomenon in systems of highly charged nanoscale filaments.
Subject(s)
Nanofibers/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Scattering, Small AngleABSTRACT
The nature of supramolecular structures could be strongly affected by the pathways followed during their formation just as mechanisms and final outcomes in chemical reactions vary with the conditions selected. So far this is a largely unexplored area of supramolecular chemistry. We demonstrate here how different preparation protocols to self-assemble peptide amphiphiles in water can result in the formation of different supramolecular morphologies, either long filaments containing ß-sheets or smaller aggregrates containing peptide segments in random coil conformation. We found that the assembly rate into ß-sheets decreases in the presence of a destabilizing "good" solvent like hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and is affected by transient conditions in solution. Also the peptide amphiphile investigated spontaneously nucleates the ß-sheet-containing filaments at a critical fraction of HFIP in water below 21%. Furthermore, ß-sheet assemblies have a high kinetic stability and, once formed, do not disassemble rapidly. We foresee that insights into the characteristic dynamics of a supramolecular system provide an efficient approach to select the optimum assembly pathway necessary for function.
Subject(s)
Peptides/chemical synthesis , Surface-Active Agents/chemical synthesis , Kinetics , Molecular Conformation , Peptides/chemistry , Surface-Active Agents/chemistryABSTRACT
A large variety of functional self-assembled supramolecular nanostructures have been reported over recent decades. The experimental approach to these systems initially focused on the design of molecules with specific interactions that lead to discrete geometric structures, and more recently on the kinetics and mechanistic pathways of self-assembly. However, there remains a major gap in our understanding of the internal conformational dynamics of these systems and of the links between their dynamics and function. Molecular dynamics simulations have yielded information on the molecular fluctuations of supramolecular assemblies, yet experimentally it has been difficult to obtain analogous data with subnanometre spatial resolution. Using site-directed spin labelling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we measured the conformational dynamics of a self-assembled nanofibre in water through its 6.7 nm cross-section. Our measurements provide unique insight for the design of supramolecular functional materials.
Subject(s)
Nanofibers/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Circular Dichroism , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Diffusion , Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy , Kinetics , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Protein Structure, Secondary , Spin LabelsABSTRACT
Electrospinning is a high-throughput, low-cost technique for manufacturing long fibers from solution. Conventionally, this technique is used with covalent polymers with large molecular weights. We report here the electrospinning of functional peptide-based supramolecular polymers from water at very low concentrations (<4 wt %). Molecules with low molecular weights (<1 kDa) could be electrospun because they self-assembled into one-dimensional supramolecular polymers upon solvation and the critical parameters of viscosity, solution conductivity, and surface tension were optimized for this technique. The supramolecular structure of the electrospun fibers could ensure that certain residues, like bioepitopes, are displayed on the surface even after processing. This system provides an opportunity to electrospin bioactive supramolecular materials from water for biomedical applications.
Subject(s)
Electrochemical Techniques , Polymers/chemistry , Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Optics and Photonics , Peptides/chemistry , Rheology , Solutions , Surface Properties , Viscosity , WaterABSTRACT
Many naturally occurring peptides containing cationic and hydrophobic domains have evolved to interact with mammalian cell membranes and have been incorporated into materials for non-viral gene delivery, cancer therapy or treatment of microbial infections. Their electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged cell surface and hydrophobic interactions with the membrane lipids enable intracellular delivery or cell lysis. Although the effects of hydrophobicity and cationic charge of soluble molecules on the cell membrane are well known, the interactions between materials with these molecular features and cells remain poorly understood. Here we report that varying the cohesive forces within nanofibres of supramolecular materials with nearly identical cationic and hydrophobic structure instruct cell death or cell survival. Weak intermolecular bonds promote cell death through disruption of lipid membranes, while materials reinforced by hydrogen bonds support cell viability. These findings provide new strategies to design biomaterials that interact with the cell membrane.
Subject(s)
Cell Death/physiology , Cell Survival/physiology , Animals , Calorimetry, Differential Scanning , Cell Line , Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Liposomes/chemistry , Mice , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Nanostructures/chemistryABSTRACT
The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are known to influence neuronal differentiation and maturation, though the mechanism by which neuronal cells respond to these biophysical cues is not completely understood. Here we design ECM mimics using self-assembled peptide nanofibers, in which fiber rigidity is tailored by supramolecular interactions, in order to investigate the relationship between matrix stiffness and morphological development of hippocampal neurons. We observe that development of neuronal polarity is accelerated on soft nanofiber substrates, and results from the dynamics of neuronal processes. While the total neurite outgrowth of non-polar neurons remains conserved, weaker adhesion of neurites to soft PA substrate facilitates easier retraction, thus enhancing the frequency of "extension-retraction" events. We hypothesize that higher neurite motility enhances the probability of one neurite to reach a critical length relative to others, thereby initiating the developmental sequence of axon differentiation. Our results suggest that substrate stiffness can influence neuronal development by regulating its dynamics, thus providing useful information on scaffold design for applications in neural regeneration.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Matrix/physiology , Neurogenesis , Neurons/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Astrocytes/cytology , Astrocytes/drug effects , Astrocytes/metabolism , Biomechanical Phenomena/drug effects , Cell Count , Cell Shape/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Extracellular Matrix/drug effects , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Hippocampus/cytology , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , NIH 3T3 Cells , Nanofibers/ultrastructure , Neurites/drug effects , Neurites/metabolism , Neurogenesis/drug effects , Neurons/drug effects , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/pharmacology , Surface-Active Agents/chemistry , Surface-Active Agents/pharmacology , Time-Lapse ImagingABSTRACT
We report here the preparation of filamentous virus-like particles by the encapsulation of a linear or circular double-stranded DNA template with preassembled mushroom-shaped nanostructures having a positively charged domain. These nanostructures mimic the capsid proteins of natural filamentous viruses and are formed by self-assembly of coiled-coil peptides conjugated at opposite termini with cationic segments and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains. We found that a high molecular weight of PEG segments was critical for the formation of monodisperse and uniformly shaped filamentous complexes. It is proposed that electrostatic attachment of the nanostructures with sufficiently long PEG segments generates steric forces that increase the rigidity of the neutralized DNA template. This stiffening counterbalances the natural tendency of the DNA template to condense into toroids or buckle multiple times. The control achieved over both shape and dimensions of the particles offers a strategy to create one-dimensional supramolecular nanostructures of defined length containing nucleic acids.
Subject(s)
DNA, Viral/chemistry , DNA/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/chemistry , Algorithms , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Molecular Weight , Monte Carlo Method , Nucleic Acid Conformation , Plasmids , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Scattering, Radiation , Static Electricity , Ultracentrifugation , X-RaysABSTRACT
Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a potent osteoinductive cytokine that plays a critical role during bone regeneration and repair. In the extracellular environment, sulfated polysaccharides anchored covalently to glycoproteins such as syndecan and also non-covalently to fibronectin fibers have been shown to bind BMP-2 through a heparin-binding domain and regulate its bioactivity. We report here on a synthetic biomimetic strategy that emulates biological BMP-2 signaling through the use of peptide amphiphile nanofibers designed to bind heparin. The supramolecular nanofibers, which integrate the biological role of syndecan and fibronectin, were allowed to form gel networks within the pores of an absorbable collagen scaffold by simply infiltrating dilute solutions of the peptide amphiphile, heparan sulfate, and BMP-2. The hybrid biomaterial enhanced significantly bone regeneration in a rat critical-size femoral defect model using BMP-2 amounts that are one order of magnitude lower than required for healing in this animal model. Using micro-computed tomography, we also showed that the hybrid scaffold was more effective at bridging within the gap relative to a conventional scaffold of the type used clinically based on collagen and BMP-2. Histological evaluation also revealed the presence of more mature bone in the new ossified tissue when the low dose of BMP-2 was delivered using the biomimetic supramolecular system. These results demonstrate how molecularly designed materials that mimic features of the extracellular environment can amplify the regenerative capacity of growth factors.
Subject(s)
Biomimetic Materials/metabolism , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/administration & dosage , Bone Regeneration/drug effects , Collagen/metabolism , Peptides/metabolism , Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry , Animals , Biomimetic Materials/chemistry , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/pharmacology , Collagen/chemistry , Heparin/metabolism , Heparitin Sulfate/metabolism , Male , Nanofibers/chemistry , Nanofibers/ultrastructure , Peptides/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Inbred LewABSTRACT
Elucidating the structural information of nanoscale materials in their solvent-exposed state is crucial, as a result, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) has become an increasingly popular technique in the materials science, chemistry, and biology communities. Cryo-TEM provides a method to directly visualize the specimen structure in a solution-state through a thin film of vitrified solvent. This technique complements X-ray, neutron, and light scattering methods that probe the statistical average of all species present; furthermore, cryo-TEM can be used to observe changes in structure over time. In the area of self-assembly, this tool has been particularly powerful for the characterization of natural and synthetic small molecule assemblies, as well as hybrid organic-inorganic composites. In this review, we discuss recent advances in cryogenic TEM in the context of self-assembling systems with emphasis on characterization of transitions observed in response to external stimuli.
ABSTRACT
High aspect ratio peptide nanofibers have potential as biodegradable vehicles for drug delivery. We report here the synthesis of four self-assembling peptide amphiphiles (PAs) containing a lysine ε-amine-derivatized hydrazide that was systematically placed at different positions along the backbone of the peptide sequence C(16)V(2)A(2)E(2) (where C(16) = palmitic acid). Hydrazones were formed from each hydrazide by condensation with the solvatochromic dye 6-propionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Prodan), which is typically used to probe cell membranes. All four compounds were found to self-assemble into nanofibers, and Prodan release was measured from filamentous gels prepared by screening PA charges with divalent cations. Near zero-order release kinetics were observed for all nanofibers, but release half-lives differed depending on the position of the fluorophore in the PA sequence. Dye release kinetics were rationalized through the use of cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence anisotropy, circular dichroism, and partition coefficient calculations. Relative release rates were found to correlate directly with fluorophore mobility, which varied inversely with packing density, degree of order in the hydrophobic PA core, and the ß-sheet character of the peptide.
ABSTRACT
Self-assembling peptide materials have been used extensively to mimic natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) by presenting bioactive epitopes on a synthetic matrix. Although this approach can facilitate a desired response from cells grown in the matrix, it lacks the capacity for spatial or temporal regulation of the presented signals. We describe here a photoresponsive, synthetic ECM using a supramolecular platform composed of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) that self-assemble into cylindrical nanofibers. A photocleavable nitrobenzyl ester group was included in the peptide backbone using a novel Fmoc-amino acid that is compatible with microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis. The placement of the photolabile group on the peptide backbone enabled efficient removal of the ECM-derived cell adhesion epitope RGDS from PA molecules upon exposure to light (half-life of photolysis ~1.9 min) without affecting the nanofiber assembly. Fibroblasts cultured on RGDS-presenting PA nanofiber substrates demonstrated increased cell spreading and more mature focal adhesions compared with unfunctionalized and control (RGES-presenting) surfaces, as determined by immunostaining and cell morphological analysis. Furthermore, we observed an arrest in fibroblast spreading on substrates containing a cleavable RGDS epitope when the culture was exposed to light; in contrast, this dynamic shift in cell response was absent when the RGDS epitope was attached to the PA molecule by a light-insensitive control linker. Light-responsive bioactive materials can contribute to the development of synthetic systems that more closely mimic the dynamic nature of native ECM.