PEPTIDE-BASED METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING AND CONTROLLING THE MORPHOLOGIES, METRICS, AND PROPERTIES OF GOLD NANOPARTICLE SUPERSTRUCTURES

摘要

This dissertation describes new peptide-based methods for assembling and controlling the morphologies, metrics, and properties of gold nanoparticle superstructures. The aim of this research is to develop the peptide-based method by modifying the peptide sequences and controlling the reaction conditions for the synthesis and assembly of gold nanoparticle superstructures to achieve reliable control over their morphology and metrics, and furthermore study their properties and applications.udWith this goal in mind, the C-terminus of a gold-binding peptide was modified with different numbers of hydrophobic phenylalanines to affect peptide assembly and ultimately nanoparticle assembly. The addition of hydrophobic phenylalanines to the C-terminus of peptide conjugates promoted fiber bundling which in turn lead to the formation of thick or intertwined 1-D nanoparticle superstructures. Furthermore, I prepared spherical gold nanoparticle superstructures with varied diameters (~40nm, ~75nm, and ~150nm) and visible to near-infrared optical properties by using a single peptide conjugate molecule yet varied reaction conditions. Theoretical simulation and experiment were coupled to further understand their optical properties. Finally, I studied and demonstrated the drug storage and release properties of hollow spherical gold nanoparticle superstructures; this was the first demonstrated application of this class of nanoparticle superstructure.ud