Peptide Based Self-assembled Systems Structures and Applications

Molecular self-assembly is a creative process in which molecules interact with each other through weak non-covalent interaction in a bottom-up approach and spontaneously self- assemble into a defined arrangement of a larger structure.1-3 This is a fundamental concept of supramolecular chemistry.4 The non-covalent interactions that drive the formation of self- assembled structures are H-bonding, electrostatic interaction, dipole-dipole interaction, n-n stacking, van der Waals force, and hydrophobic effect.5-10 Each of these interactions is weak. However, their collection interactions lead to hierarchical structures.11 From a thermodynamic point of view, these assemblies can be classified into three major categories, in-, out- and dissipative out-of-equilibrium self-assemblies.12-13 In the following sections, I will elucidate the energy landscapes linked with self-assembly processes.