Peptide nanostructures and methods of generating and using the same

• US 20090123553A1
• Filed: 01/02/2009
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Original Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Limited (Tel Aviv University)
• Inventors: Reches, Meital, Gazit, Ehud
• Granted Patent: US 8,053,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/491
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 5/00 Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 5/06008 with the first amino acid being neutral
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 5/06078 and aromatic or cycloaliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 5/06156 and Trp-amino acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 5/06191 containing heteroatoms different from O, S, or N
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 19/24 Cold cathodes, e.g. field-emissive cathode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/939 Electron emitter, e.g. spindt emitter tip coated with nanoparticles

Abstract

A tubular or spherical nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of the plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of the 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

Claims

1. A method of generating a discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure, the method comprising incubating a plurality of peptide molecules under conditions which favor formation of the discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure, wherein each of said peptide molecules comprises no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete tubular or discrete spherical nanostructure does not exceed 500 nm in diameter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete tubular nanostructure is at least 1 nm in length.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of peptides is an aromatic dipeptide.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of aromatic dipeptides is an aromatic homodipeptide.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said aromatic homodipeptide is Phe-Phe.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said aromatic moiety is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted naphthalenyl and substituted or unsubstituted phenyl.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said substituted phenyl is selected from the group consisting of pentafluoro phenyl, iodophenyl, biphenyl and nitrophenyl.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said homodipeptide is selected from the group consisting of naphthylalanine-naphthylalanine dipeptide, (pentafluoro-phenylalanine)-(pentafluoro-phenylalanine) dipeptide, (iodo-phenylalanine)-(iodo-phenylalanine) dipeptide, (4-phenyl phenylalanine)-(4-phenyl phenylalanine) dipeptide and (p-nitro-phenylalanine)-(p-nitro-phenylalanine) dipeptide.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is a D-amino acid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is an L-amino acid.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete nanostructure is stable at a temperature range of 4-400°

C.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure is stable in an acidic environment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure is stable in a basic environment.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said conditions which favor formation of the discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure comprise non-saturation conditions which favor formation of the discrete nanostructure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said non-saturation conditions comprise dissolving the peptides in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol at a concentration of 100 mg/ml and subsequent dilution in water to a final concentration of 2 mg/ml.

17. A discrete tubular, discrete spherical or discrete planar nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of said plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

18. A nanostructure composed of a plurality of polyaromatic peptides.

19. The nanostructure of claim 18, wherein said polyaromatic peptides are selected from the group consisting of polyphenylalanine peptides, polytriptophane peptides, polytyrosine peptides, non-natural derivatives thereof and combinations thereof.

20. A memory cell, comprising:

(a) an electrode; and

(b) a nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides each including no more than 4 amino acids at least one of which being an aromatic amino acid, said nanostructure being capable of assuming one of at least two states;

said nanostructure and said electrode being designed and constructed such that when electrical current flows through said electrode, said nanostructure transforms from a first state of said at least to states to a second state of said at least to states.

21. A mechanical transmission device, comprising a first nanostructure and a second nanostructure, said first and said second nanostructure being operatively associated thereamongst such that a motion of said first nanostructure generates a motion of said second nanostructure, wherein at least one of said first and said second nanostructures is composed of a plurality of peptides each includes no more than 4 amino-acids, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

22. A heat transfer device, comprising a nanofluid and a channel for holding said nanofluid, said nanofluid comprising nanostructures suspended in a fluid, wherein at least a portion of said nanostructures is composed of a plurality of peptides, each including no more than 4 amino acids, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid, said nanofluid and said channel being designed and constructed such that heat is carried by said nanostructures from a first end of said channel to a second end thereof.

23. A composition comprising:

(i) a tubular or spherical nanostructure being composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of said plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid; and

(ii) an agent being attached to said tubular or spherical nanostructure.

24. A method for inducing localized hyperthermia in a cell or tissue of an individual, the method comprising:

delivering a plurality of nanoshells, each having a nanostructure core and a conductive shell and being capable of converting incident radiation into heat energy, said nanostructure core is composed of a plurality of peptides, each including no more than 4 amino acids, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid; and

exposing said nanoshells to said incident radiation to thereby convert said incident radiation into said heat energy.

25. An electronic device comprising a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode and a channel, wherein at least one of said gate electrode and said channel comprises a nanostructure being composed of a plurality of peptides each including no more than 4 amino acids, wherein at least one of said 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

26. The device of claim 25, being a transistor.

27. The device of claim 25, serving in a switching circuit.