Thermoresponsive self-assembly of short elastin-like peptides

Short elastin-like penta- and deca- peptides have been found to self-assemble into nanofibers in a temperature dependent way. The peptides were synthesized by solid phase synthesis, modified at the N- and C-terminals respectively by acetylation and mannosylation, and analyzed in terms of thermoresponsive self-assembling. CD spectra of these peptides were indicative of conformational transition from 25 to 35°C. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) suggested that the peptides formed molecular assembly of micrometer sizes at higher temperatures. The self-assembling transition temperature was dependent on the end group modification. TEM revealed that self-assembling peptides formed ordered supramolecular nanofibers and spheres. The supramolecules of these short elastin-like peptides will be useful as novel stimuli responsive materials.