Self-assembly of peptide-amphiphile nanofibers under physiological conditions

1. A sol-gel composition comprising (i) a peptide amphiphile compound having a net charge at physiological pH which comprises a peptide component containing a peptidic epitope sequence, a hydrophobic component which is not peptide, and residues for intermolecular disulfide bond formation, wherein said epitope sequence is selected from RGD, IKVAV (SEQ ID NO:45) and YIGSR (SEQ ID NO:46), and (ii) a metal ion to induce gelation of said amphiphile compound whereby the composition forms a gel of supramolecular nanofibers of said amphiphile compound in the presence of said reagent, wherein said reagent comprises metal ion in stoichiometric excess of said amphiphile compound.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, Cd, Fe and Zn divalent ions, Al, Fe and Gd trivalent ions, and combinations of said ions.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said residues comprise cysteine residues which form one or more disulfide bonds, said composition further comprises an oxidizing agent to form said disulfide bonds between amphiphile compounds.

4. The composition of claim 3 further comprising a subsequent reducing agent to cleave said disulfide bond.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said reagent is a metal hydroxide.