Self-Assembly of a β-Sheet Protein Governed by Relief of Electrostatic Repulsion Relative to van der Waals Attraction

The electrostatic and van der Waals forces and their coupling in aqueous systems with triple-layer geometry is considered. A general problem is formulated which includes the free-standing soap films, the swelling of clay plates and possibly the interaction between lipid membranes, as special cases. This problem is solved for the electrostatic repulsion and the zero-frequency contribution to the van der Waals attraction including the effects of fluctuating surface charges and the relaxation of the diffuse double layer.

Download Full-text

Self-Assembly of Nanoclusters into Mono-, Few-, and Multilayered Sheets via Dipole-Induced Asymmetric van der Waals Attraction

ACS Nano ◽

10.1021/acsnano.5b01823 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 6315-6323 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Zhennan Wu ◽

Jiale Liu ◽

Yanchun Li ◽

Ziyi Cheng ◽

Tingting Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Self Assembly ◽

Van Der Waals ◽

Van Der Waals Attraction

Download Full-text

van der Waals attraction energy between unequal rough spherical particles

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science ◽

10.1016/s0021-9797(84)80082-x ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

pp. 590-591 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

J CZARNECKI ◽

V ITSCHENSKIJ

Keyword(s):

Van Der Waals ◽

Spherical Particles ◽

Van Der Waals Attraction

Download Full-text

Self-Assembly of a Chiral Cubic Three-Connected Net from the High Symmetry Molecules C60 and SnI4

10.26434/chemrxiv.12196788 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel B. Straus ◽

Robert J. Cava

Keyword(s):

Organic Synthesis ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Van Der Waals ◽

Van Der Waals Forces ◽

High Symmetry ◽

Molecular Chirality ◽

Chiral Materials ◽

Self Assembled ◽

Chiral Centers

The design of new chiral materials usually requires stereoselective organic synthesis to create molecules with chiral centers. Less commonly, achiral molecules can self-assemble into chiral materials, despite the absence of intrinsic molecular chirality. Here, we demonstrate the assembly of high-symmetry molecules into a chiral van der Waals structure by synthesizing crystals of C60(SnI4)2 from icosahedral buckminsterfullerene (C60) and tetrahedral SnI4 molecules through spontaneous self-assembly. The SnI4 tetrahedra template the Sn atoms into a chiral cubic three-connected net of the SrSi2 type that is held together by van der Waals forces. Our results represent the remarkable emergence of a self-assembled chiral material from two of the most highly symmetric molecules, demonstrating that almost any molecular, nanocrystalline, or engineered precursor can be considered when designing chiral assemblies.

Download Full-text

Interfacial Crystallization and Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Spider Silk Inspired Protein at the Water-Air Interface

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14154239 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4239

Author(s):

Pezhman Mohammadi ◽

Fabian Zemke ◽

Wolfgang Wagermaier ◽

Markus B. Linder

Keyword(s):

Self Assembly ◽

Spider Silk ◽

Assembly Process ◽

Protein Solution ◽

Time Resolved ◽

Macromolecular Assembly ◽

X Ray Scattering ◽

Air Interface ◽

Fundamental Research ◽

Β Sheet

Macromolecular assembly into complex morphologies and architectural shapes is an area of fundamental research and technological innovation. In this work, we investigate the self-assembly process of recombinantly produced protein inspired by spider silk (spidroin). To elucidate the first steps of the assembly process, we examined highly concentrated and viscous pendant droplets of this protein in air. We show how the protein self-assembles and crystallizes at the water–air interface into a relatively thick and highly elastic skin. Using time-resolved in situ synchrotron X-ray scattering measurements during the drying process, we showed that the skin evolved to contain a high β-sheet amount over time. We also found that β-sheet formation strongly depended on protein concentration and relative humidity. These had a strong influence not only on the amount, but also on the ordering of these structures during the β-sheet formation process. We also showed how the skin around pendant droplets can serve as a reservoir for attaining liquid–liquid phase separation and coacervation from the dilute protein solution. Essentially, this study shows a new assembly route which could be optimized for the synthesis of new materials from a dilute protein solution and determine the properties of the final products.

Download Full-text