Scientific Achievement

Developed a series of amphiphilic peptoids that assemble into supramolecular nanohelices in which the dimensions and chirality are controlled by the peptoid sequence.

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Significance and Impact

Results establish design rules for generating peptoid nanohelices by elucidating the underlying interactions, as well as a platform for developing functional chiral materials.

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Research Details

• Designed a series of short amphiphilic peptoids with tunable polar end-groups for the assembly of chiral nanohelices 

• Demonstrated that changes in ionic interactions can control the geometries of the nanohelices, and introduction of chiral motifs can amplify the preference for supramolecular chirality

• Elucidated the molecular interactions that drive nanohelix assembly using molecular dynamics simulations and proposed theoretical interpretations to predict assembly outcomes.