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Reversible active switching of the mechanical properties of a peptide film at a fluid–fluid interface

Nature Materials volume 5, pages 502–506 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Designer peptides have recently been developed as building blocks for novel self-assembled materials with stimuli-responsive properties. To date, such materials have been based on self-assembly in bulk aqueous solution or at solid–fluid interfaces. We have designed a 21-residue peptide, AM1, as a stimuli-responsive surfactant that switches molecular architectures at a fluid–fluid interface in response to changes in bulk aqueous solution composition. In the presence of divalent zinc at neutral pH, the peptide forms a mechanically strong ‘film state’. In the absence of metal ions or at acid pH, the peptide adsorbs to form a mobile ‘detergent state’. The two interfacial states can be actively and reversibly switched. Switching between the two states by a change in pH or the addition of a chelating agent leads to rapid emulsion coalescence or foam collapse. This work introduces a new class of surfactants that offer an environmentally friendly approach to control the stability of interfaces in foams, emulsions and fluid–fluid interfaces more generally.

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Figure 1: Mechanical properties of self-assembled AM1 and Lac21 architectures at the air–water interface.
Figure 2: Switching of the mechanical properties of self-assembled AM1 architectures at the air–water interface.
Figure 3: Coalescence of a Zn(II)-AM1-stabilized toluene-in-water emulsion by addition of acid.
Figure 4: Modulation of the stability of a Zn(II)-AM1 foam by acidification and reneutralization.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Australian Research Council (Grant FF0348465). A.F.D. acknowedges a University of Queensland Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. A.S.M. acknowledges an Australian Postgraduate Award and a University of Queensland School of Engineering Super Scholarship. A.P.J.M. acknowledges an Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship. This research was facilitated by access to the Australian Proteome Analysis Facility established under the Australian Government’s Major National Research Facilities program. Patent applied for.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biomolecular Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Annette F. Dexter, Andrew S. Malcolm & Anton P. J. Middelberg

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  1. Annette F. Dexter
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Correspondence to Anton P. J. Middelberg.

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International patent application PCT/AU2006/00236, Peptide Networks, relates to this work.

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Dexter, A., Malcolm, A. & Middelberg, A. Reversible active switching of the mechanical properties of a peptide film at a fluid–fluid interface. Nature Mater 5, 502–506 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1653

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