Piezoelectric properties of diphenylalanine microtubes prepared from the solution

Biomimetic self-assembling peptides form a variety of structures that can be used for the fabrication of functional devices. We are witnessing the emergence of a new era of bionanotechnology that opens up new possibilities for novel electronic, photonic and energy functionalities based on supramolecular green and lightweight structures. In this work, we study the emergent piezoelectric properties of linear dipeptide diphenylalanine (FF) that can self-assemble in the shape of microtubes. The matrix of piezoelectric coefficients is derived for the first time based on the hexagonal symmetry of FF structures and different configurations of the tubes are tested by the advanced Piezoresponse Force Microscopy (PFM). Strong piezoelectric anisotropy of piezoelectric coefficients is explained by the self-assembled structure of FF peptides. Possible applications of piezoelectric microtubes in functional devices are discussed.     

Achieving room temperature phosphorescence from organic small molecules on amino acid skeleton

Room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) generated by small molecules has attracted great attention due to their unique potentials for biosensor, bioimaging and security protection. While, the design of RTP materials is extremely challenging for organic small molecules in non-crystalline solid state. Herein, we report a new strategy for achieving non-crystalline organic small molecules with RTP emission by modifying different phosphors onto diphenylalanine or phenylalanine derivatives. Benefiting from the skeletal structure of the amino acid derivatives, there are intermolecular hydrogen bond formation and rigidification effect, thereby minimizing the intermolecular motions and enhancing their RTP performance     

Redox-responsive diphenylalanine aggregate mediated by cyclodextrin

The molecular assembling behaviours between ferrocene-modified diphenylalanine and β-cyclodextrin were investigated, which showed a reversible morphological conversion by the chemical redox of ferrocenyl moiety.     

固相合成法制备组氨酸-苯丙二肽及其自组装研究

本文以组装性能良好的苯丙氨酸二肽(FF)为母体分子,用组氨酸对其进行化学修饰,通过多肽固相合成法合成了组氨酸-苯丙二肽(HisFF)凝胶因子。合成的HisFF分子通过质谱(MS)、核磁共振(NMR)和液相色谱(HPLC)方法测试确定精确的结构和纯度。HisFF聚集体的形貌结构通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察。HisFF分子在甲苯、氯仿和乙酸乙酯溶剂中形成凝胶强度不同,TEM实验结果表明纤维强度和聚集形态影响其凝胶的强度。组氨酸-苯丙二肽在多种溶剂中,通过不同组装方法可以组装成各种各样的纳米结构。例如,HisFF在丙酮、甲醇和乙酸乙酯溶剂中可组装成纳米颗粒、纳米管和螺旋状纳米纤维;组氨酸-苯丙二肽先经HFIP溶解再通过溶剂稀释后,可得到不同直径的纳米纤维。但是在四氢呋喃、乙醇和乙腈溶剂中,两种方法组装的形貌几乎无变化。     

Achieving room temperature phosphorescence from organic small molecules on amino acid skeleton

Room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) generated by small molecules has attracted great attention due to their unique potentials for biosensor, bioimaging and security protection. While, the design of RTP materials is extremely challenging for organic small molecules in non-crystalline solid state. Herein, we report a new strategy for achieving non-crystalline organic small molecules with RTP emission by modifying different phosphors onto diphenylalanine or phenylalanine derivatives. Benefiting from the skeletal structure of the amino acid derivatives, there are intermolecular hydrogen bond formation and rigidification effect, thereby minimizing the intermolecular motions and enhancing their RTP performance