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Creation of artificial helical systems and their helicity modulation
Creation of artificial helical systems and their helicity modulation
The design and study of artificial helical systems mimicking natural biopolymers have gained importance, as they provide information regarding the self-assembly of biopolymers in the living system. We developed naphthalimide-conjugated dipeptides containing achiral and chiral amino acids, which self-assemble to form helical nanofibers. These materials exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties. We tuned the helicity of the nanofibers by altering the molecular chirality, chain length of the achiral amino acid, and ratio of achiral solvent systems successfully. We are currently studying more complex systems.
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Modified aromatic amino acid based self-assembling systems
Modified aromatic amino acid based self-assembling systems
Aromatic amino acids played a significant role in the self-assembly of peptides and proteins through aromaic interactions. Incorporation of substituents in the aromatic ring affects the self-assembly process by additional non-covalent interactions. We studied the self-assembly of modified aromatic amino acid based short-peptides.
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Amino acid- and short-peptide-based hydrogels as biomaterials
Amino acid- and short-peptide-based hydrogels as biomaterials
Amino acid and short peptide hydrogels are self-assembled biomaterials with diverse applications, formed from the spontaneous aggregation of amino acids and short peptides into ordered nanofibrous networks, offering advantages like biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable properties. These hydrogels are highly explored for their potential in various biomedical applications, including cell culture scaffolds, drug delivery systems, and as antibacterial agents due to their ability to mimic natural biological environments and interact with cells and tissues.
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Functional nanostructures from different natural building blocks
Functional nanostructures from different natural building blocks
Functional nanostructures can be created from native amino acids through self-assembly processes, forming diverse nanoscale architectures like nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanorods. Under a suitable self-assembling environment, they form supramolecular gels. These amino acid-based nanomaterials hold promise for applications in drug delivery, imaging, diagnosis, and photochemistry due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.
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Peptide-based self-replicating systems in the context of the Origins of Life
Peptide-based self-replicating systems in the context of the Origins of Life
Peptide-based self-replicating systems are a significant area of research in understanding the origins of life, as they propose a potential pathway for the emergence of information transfer and replication before the established RNA World theory, offering advantages in terms of chemical feasibility and adaptability. These systems, often involving autocatalytic or cross-catalytic peptides, demonstrate the ability to template the synthesis of new peptides, mimicking a key characteristic of life in prebiotic environments.
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