Taraballi F., Campione M., Vescovi A.L., Sassella A., Hwang W., Paleari A., Gelain F.
University of Milan-Bicocca, IT
Keywords: AFM, atomic force microscopy, FP, functionalized peptides, MD, micro-Raman spectroscopy, molecular Dynamic
Synthetic polymers and bioinspired fibrous materials have a significant impact in medicine in the recent years. The design and fabrication of new bio-materials has a great influence in several scientific and medical communities. The potential benefits to basic science include: understanding of biomolecular self-assembly in water; predicting natural biomolecular assembly from sequence information alone and at least increasing confidence to designing new natural and bio-materials . The “design rules” of self-assembly are becoming available but not yet completely understood. RADA16-I undergoes molecular self-assembly into double layered -sheet structures that spontaneously form nanofibers upon exposure to solutions at neutral pH. RADA16-I functionalization with biological active motifs may influence the self-assembling tendency of new functionalized peptides (FP). This explorative study attempts to give different tools to characterize this large group of synthetic peptides. Three different FP showing different hydrophobicity profile and local charge have been analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) that are good devices for the charaterization of self-assembly biomaterials. Farther more computational experiments by molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirm the experimental findings and can develop a good tool to predict the behaviour of these peptide in aqueous solution.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Nanotechnology 2008: Life Sciences, Medicine & Bio Materials – Technical Proceedings of the 2008 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: June 1, 2008
Pages: 226 - 229
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Medical & Biotech
Topics: Biomaterials, Materials Characterization & Imaging
ISBN: 978-1-4200-8504-4