Nanoscale Piezoelectric Properties of Self-Assembled Fmoc-FF Peptide Fibrous Networks

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015 Jun 17;7(23):12702-7. doi: 10.1021/acsami.5b01251. Epub 2015 Jun 3.

Abstract

Fibrous peptide networks, such as the structural framework of self-assembled fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) nanofibrils, have mechanical properties that could successfully mimic natural tissues, making them promising materials for tissue engineering scaffolds. These nanomaterials have been determined to exhibit shear piezoelectricity using piezoresponse force microscopy, as previously reported for FF nanotubes. Structural analyses of Fmoc-FF nanofibrils suggest that the observed piezoelectric response may result from the noncentrosymmetric nature of an underlying β-sheet topology. The observed piezoelectricity of Fmoc-FF fibrous networks is advantageous for a range of biomedical applications where electrical or mechanical stimuli are required.

Keywords: biomaterials; hydrogels; peptides; piezoelectricity; piezoresponse force microscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Dipeptides
  • Fluorenes / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Phenylalanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Dipeptides
  • Fluorenes
  • Hydrogels
  • N(alpha)-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonylamino acids
  • Peptides
  • phenylalanylphenylalanine
  • Phenylalanine