Fabrication of microspheres from self-assembled γ-peptides?

CrystEngComm Pub Date: 2013-05-20 DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40689J

Abstract

The self-assembly of three peptides containing various conformationally flexible and rigid γ-amino acids has been investigated. In the solid state, peptide 1 adopts an extended backbone conformation, peptide 2 forms a turn-like structure and peptide 3 adopts a kink-like conformation, which are consistent with the increasing rigidity of the N-terminal γ-amino acids. In methanol–water (19?:?1) solution the peptides self-assembled and formed polydisperse porous microspheres. AFM and FE-SEM images show that the microspheres have diameters ranging from 500 nm–1 μm. Moreover, these microspheres have encapsulated a potent anticonvulsant and mood stabilizing drug carbamazepine. The dissolution of the peptide capsule in water leads to the sustained release of the encapsulated hydrophobic drug.

Graphical abstract: Fabrication of microspheres from self-assembled γ-peptides
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