Uncovering the Molecular Structure of Peptide-Based Crystalline Assemblies

Project Description

The spontaneous organization of biomolecules into hierarchical structures is a hallmark of living organisms. These self-assembled architectures serve as inspiration for repurposing biomolecules (e.g., proteins, peptides, DNA) as modular building blocks for the fabrication of synthetic materials with properties and function that can rival their natural counterparts. A particular class of biopolymers, amphiphilic collagen-mimetic peptides (aCMPs), have been shown to assemble into discrete, monodisperse crystalline particles with tunable sizes across the mesoscale. The goal for this project is to uncover the detailed molecular arrangement of aCMPs within these crystals through utilizing the SAXS/WAXS and micro-electron diffraction instrumentation at the BioPACIFIC MIP facilities. This information will lay the groundwork for establishing design rules for assembling aCMPs into highly ordered structures and probing their potential applications in bionanotechnology.

Instruments