Polypeptide nanoribbon hydrogels assembled through multiple supramolecular interactions.

We investigated the formation of nanoribbon hydrogels in a mixed system of zinc ions, bis(ligand)s, and triblock peptide copolymers. Using a combination of experimental techniques: dynamic light scattering, cryo-transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and circular dichroism, we arrived at a model for the formation of nanoribbon hydrogels in which well-defined nanoribbons are formed out of multiple supramolecular interactions: (1) metal coordination that yields supramolecular polyelectrolytes; (2) electrostatic complexation between the supramolecular polyelectrolytes and the oppositely charged blocks of the peptide copolymers; (3) hydrogen bond and (4) hydrophobic interactions that support the secondary and ternary structure of the ribbons; (5) van der Waals interactions that enable bundling of the ribbons.