Chemistry Letters, Vol.41, No.1, 95-97, 2012
A Novel Preparative Method of Silica Nanotubes by Utilizing Self-assembly and Disassembly of Peptide Amphiphiles
The addition of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) induces both the transition from beta-sheet to alpha-helix structure of peptides and disassembly of wormlike micelles of peptide amphiphiles. The hierarchical structural changes were utilized for the preparation of silica nanotubes from silica-micelle complexes with avoiding structural deterioration that is normally caused by thermal treatment. This method is advantageous for the preparation of silica nanotubes because of reusability of peptide templates, possible replication of the surface of beta-sheet structure, and very mild conditions.