Self-assembly and mineralization of peptide-amphiphile nanofibers

1. A method of using a peptide amphiphile composition to control hydroxyapatite crystal growth, said method comprising:

providing a solvent medium with at least one peptide amphiphile composition comprising a peptide component selected from the group consisting of

CCCCGGGSRGD,

(SEQ ID NO: 2)

CCCCGGGSRGDS,

(SEQ ID NO: 17)

CCCCGGGSKGE,

(SEQ ID NO: 11)

CCCCGGGEIKVAV,

(SEQ ID NO: 16)

AAAAGGGSRGD,

(SEQ ID NO: 9)

AAAAGGGSKGE,

(SEQ ID NO: 12)

and

GGGSRGD.

(SEQ ID NO: 7)

wherein the serine residue in the peptide component is phosphorylated and wherein a C 10 -C 22 hydrocarbon component is attached to the N-terminus of the peptide component;

inducing assembly of said peptide amphiphile compositions into cylindrical micelles;

stabilizing said micelles with intermolecular covalent bond formation; and

introducing reagents for the preparation of hydroxyapatite.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein micelle assembly is induced by adjusting the pH of said medium to less than about 4.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peptide amphiphile has the peptide component is SEQ ID NO:9 and has a C 16 hydrocarbon component.