Beta-peptide lyotropic liquid crystals and methods of manufacture and use thereof
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsSamuel H. GELLMAN, Nicholas L. ABBOTT, William C. POMERANTZ
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Abstract
The present invention provides materials and methods that make liquid crystal phases accessible with relatively short β-peptides in aqueous solvents.
Claims24
A lyotropic liquid crystal comprising a β-peptide.
A method of providing a β-peptide-based lyotropic liquid crystal, comprising the step of combining β-peptides capable of self-assembly under conditions to allow said self-assembly to occur whereby a β-peptide-based lyotropic liquid crystal is provided.
A liquid crystal device for detecting an analyte in a sample, comprising:
- (a) a sample chamber;
- and
- (b) a β-peptide-based lyotropic liquid crystal positioned within said sample chamber.
A method of identifying a β-peptide capable of forming a lyotropic liquid crystal in an aqueous solvent, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a candidate β-peptide;
- (b) placing said candidate β-peptide in an aqueous solvent under conditions to promote formation of a lyotropic liquid crystal;
- and
- (c) detecting the formation of said lyotropic liquid crystal wherein such formation identifies the candidate β-peptide as capable of forming a lyotropic liquid crystal in an aqueous solvent.
A method of providing a network of self-assembled nanofibers, comprising the step of combining β-peptides capable of self-assembly under conditions to allow said self-assembly to occur whereby a network of self-assembled nanofibers is provided.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.