Self-assembling peptide nanotubes

Biological proteins and peptides have the intrinsic ability to self-assemble into elongated solid nanofibrils1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, which may give rise to amyloid diseases8, 9, 10 and 11 or inspire applications ranging from tissue engineering to nanoelectronics12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Proteinaceous fibrils are extensively studied and well understood, to the extent that detailed theoretical models have been proposed that explain and predict their behavior17 and 18. Another intriguing state of protein-like self-assembly is that of nanotubes (NTs), defined here as an elongated nano-object with a definite inner hole. In contrast to proteinaceous fibrils, nanotubes are much less frequently observed and far less well understood. However, they have attracted research interest internationally as key components for nanotechnology.