Nano-Manufacturing Supramolecular Structures of Bio-Inspired Naphthalene Diimide Bolaamphiphile via Solvophobic Controlled Self-Assembly

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a naphthalene diimide bolaamphiphile (NDI-1) bearing the peptide segment of Tyr-Glu and studied self-assembly through solvophobic control. NDI-1 is shown to self-assemble into a flower-like morphology from its 4:6 THF/methylcyclohexane (MCH) (v/v) solution. Microscale broad grass-like structures were obtained from NDI-1 solution in 2:8 THF/H2O (v/v). The assembly formation was visualised by scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, furthermore, XRD used to determined mode of aggregation. This work demonstrates that complex self-assembly can indeed be attained through hierarchical non-covalent interactions of bio-inspired naphthalene diimide-peptide conjugates.