Cyclic peptide structures for molecular scale electronic and photonic devices

摘要

The present invention discloses a family of cyclic peptide monomers and supramolecular cyclic peptide structures comprising chromophore residues which possess electronic and electro-optic properties for producing molecular scale electronic and photonic devices made from such materials. More particularly, this invention provides for cyclic peptide nanotube structures formed from a plurality of stacked cyclic peptides comprising chromophore residues that provide molecular scale electronic conductivity and non linear optical behavior. The stackable cyclic peptide is represented by the general formula where R₁ is H, CH₃ or alkyl; where at least one R₂ is a chromophore; where R₃ is H, CH₃ or a polar or non-polar organic functional group used for controlling peptide stacking and solubility; where n equals 1 or 2; where m equals 4 or 6; and where a first adjacent amino acid residue has an α-carbon chirality of L and a second adjacent amino acid residue has an α-carbon chirality of D.