Super-resolution microscopy reveals structural diversity in molecular exchange among peptide amphiphile nanofibres
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States); Eindhoven Univ. of Technology, Eindhoven (The Netherlands); King's College London, London (United Kingdom)
- Eindhoven Univ. of Technology, Eindhoven (The Netherlands)
- Eindhoven Univ. of Technology, Eindhoven (The Netherlands); Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona (Spain)
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
The dynamic behaviour of supramolecular systems is an important dimension of their potential functions. Here, we report on the use of stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy to study the molecular exchange of peptide amphiphile nanofibres, supramolecular systems known to have important biomedical functions. Solutions of nanofibres labelled with different dyes (Cy3 and Cy5) were mixed, and the distribution of dyes inserting into initially single-colour nanofibres was quantified using correlative image analysis. Our observations are consistent with an exchange mechanism involving monomers or small clusters of molecules inserting randomly into a fibre. Different exchange rates are observed within the same fibre, suggesting that local cohesive structures exist on the basis of beta-sheet discontinuous domains. The results reported here show that peptide amphiphile supramolecular systems can be dynamic and that their intermolecular interactions affect exchange patterns. Lastly, this information can be used to generate useful aggregate morphologies for improved biomedical function.
- Research Organization:
- Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Gravity program); European Research Council (ERC); Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-IOF program
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FG02-00ER45810
- OSTI ID:
- 1261783
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1820968
- Journal Information:
- Nature Communications, Vol. 7, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
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