Peptide lamellar phases and lipid-peptide nanostructures

What is it about?

In this study we mimic lipid lamellar phases with amphiphilic designer peptides. Above a critical concentration four peptide candidates readily self-assembled into lamellar structures. When these structures were then mixed with lipids, a variety of new structures developed: lamellae transformed into vesicles, such as large multilamellar vesicles, smaller uni- or oligolamellar vesicles, and bicelles. The derived nanostructures were characterized by SAXS, TEM, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

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Why is it important?

Our findings show that the supramolecular structures of self-assembled amphiphilic designer peptides show a similar richness in morphologies as lipid mesophases.