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Identifier

000324293

Title

Design and study of composite biomaterials based on self-assembling peptides from natural fibrus proteins

Alternative Title

Σχεδιασμός και μελέτη σύνθετων βιοϋλικών που βασίζονται στην αυτο-οργάνωση πεπτιδίων από φυσικές ινώδεις πρωτεΐνες

Author

Κασωτάκης, Εμμανουήλ

Author

Μητράκη, Αννα

Abstract

The present thesis focuses on the ‘Design and study of composite biomaterials based on self-assembling peptides from natural fibrous proteins’. Self assembling peptides are supramolecular entities that spontaneously form from elementary building blocks, held together with non-covalent interactions. Introduction of biological self-assembly principles in the field of biomaterial and nanoscale engineering, is relatively recent and much remains to be clarified and understood. A major advantage in the assembly of biological materials is their self-assembly from building blocks, under non-aggressive conditions such as ambient temperatures and aqueous environments, and the good interface that exists between organic and inorganic phases. This interfacing role is most often mediated by the templating role of proteins, for example in bone and teeth formation, in oyster nacre and in silicate spicules in sponges. Another important feature in biological materials and especially proteins is the possibility of tailored-made modifications that can be made at the sequence level in order to create functionalities on the self-assembled scaffolds. These modifications cover a wide range and can include change of amino-acids, incorporation of non-natural amino acids, and chemical modifications. In the last decade lots of studies focused on self-assembling peptides, made up from building blocks found in natural proteins. My master thesis project is focused on short self-assembling peptides that are derivatives of previously studied peptides and contain cysteines in their amino acid sequence, so as to allow possibilities of metal binding, coupling and/or modification. The aim of the project is to study the self-assembly mechanisms of these structures and use them as templates for the generation of metallic nanowires or nanotubes, aiming at their subsequent integration in devices. Controlled positioning of the nanowires and tubes is necessary for their integration devices; towards this direction we initiated a collaboration with the ‘2D & 3D Laser Micro-/Nano-Structuring’ group at IESL-FORTH. My contribution towards controlled positioning of the self-assembled wires is also included in the present thesis.

Language

English

Subject

Amyloid fibrils

Biomaterials

Nanowires

Self-assembling peptides

beta-sheet

Αμυλοειδή Ίνίδια

Αυτοοργανώμενα Πεπτίδια

Βιοϋλικά

Νανοκαλώδια