Self-assembled robust dipeptide nanotubes and fabrication of dipeptide-capped gold nanoparticles on the surface of these nanotubes

Abstract

Three water-soluble dipeptides containing N-terminally located β-alanine residue and C-terminally located α-amino acid residues (β-Ala-L-Xaa, Xaa = Val/Ile/Phe) form robust crystalline nanotubes. These dipeptide nanotubes contain a common motif, a hybrid of β,α-amino acids, which are stable against heat up to 80°C, a wide range of pH (2–10), and proteolytic degradation. These robust crystalline dipeptide nanotubes are used as a template for fabricating dipeptide-capped gold nanoparticles on their outer surfaces. This is an easy way to develop nanotube/nanoparticle hybrid materials under mild conditions.