New α,γ-peptide tubulets

Because biomaterials, which have played an enormous role in the success of medical devices and drug delivery systems, deal increasingly with structures of nanometric dimensions, it has become increasingly critical to understand them at the molecular level. Here we describe a new class of self-assembling nanostructures based on cyclic peptides made of alternating 3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (γ-Ach) and α-amino acids. The cylindrical assemblies studied are models for a new class of self-assembling peptide nanotubes (SPN) that present the particular property of having the C2 methylene group pointing towards the lumen of the cavity, modifying the properties of the inner surface of the assembly. The tubulets and nanotubes described are expected to have a number of potential applications such as catalytic containers, receptors or selective molecular inclusion devices.