Self-assembled nanostructures
The present disclosure is directed to the preparation of nanostructures by the encapsulation of a charged compound with individual self-assembled unit nano structures.
1. A peptide segment comprising a first domain, a second domain and a third domain, wherein:
(a) the first domain is selected from the group consisting of spermine, oligoethyleneimine, polyethyleneimine, protamine, and a histone, and is positioned at a first terminus of the second domain;
(b) the second domain comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and is positioned between the first domain and the third domain; and
(c) the third domain is a polyethylene glycol (PEG), and is positioned at a second terminus of the second domain,
wherein a plurality of peptide segments have the ability to self assemble to form a capsomer.
2. The peptide segment of claim 1 , comprising at least one non-naturally occurring amino acid.
3. The peptide segment of claim 1 , wherein the PEG has an average molecular weight of about 2 kilodaltons to about 100 kilodaltons.
4. The peptide segment of claim 1 , wherein the PEG has an average molecular weight of about 2 kilodaltons to about 5 kilodaltons.
5. A capsomer comprising a plurality of peptide segments, each according to claim 1 , wherein the capsomer is formed by the self-assembly of the plurality of peptide segments, and wherein a plurality of capsomers have the ability to self assemble to form a nanostructure.
6. A nanostructure comprising a plurality of capsomers, each capsomer according to claim 5 , and further comprising a charged compound.
7. The nanostructure of claim 6 , comprising at least two different charged compounds.
8. The nanostructure of claim 6 , wherein each capsomer is identical.
9. The nanostructure of claim 6 , comprising at least two capsomers that are not identical.
10. The nanostructure of claim 6 , wherein the charged compound is a nucleic acid.
11. The nanostructure of claim 10 , wherein the nucleic acid is double stranded.
12. The nanostructure of claim 6 , wherein the charged compound is encapsulated by the plurality of capsomers.
13. The nanostructure of claim 6 , which has an electronic property selected from the group consisting of semiconductivity, conductivity and electrochromism.
14. The nanostructure of claim 6 , which is a monodisperse filamentous structure.