Self-Assembly and Electrical Conductivity of a New [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene (BTBT)-Peptide Hydrogel.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Fortunato, Anna Hensel, Rafael Cintra Casalini, Stefano Mba, Miriam
Editor	Iemma, Francesca Curcio, Manuela Irrera, Alessia
Copyright Year	2023
Abstract	The conjugation of small-molecule semiconductors with self-assembling peptides is a powerful tool for the fabrication of supramolecular soft materials for organic electronics and bioelectronics. Herein, we introduced the benchmark organic semiconductor [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene (BTBT) within the structure of a self-assembling amphipathic peptide. The molecular structure of the conjugate was rationally designed to favour π-π stacking between BTBT cores and π-delocalization within the self-assembled architectures. Hydrogels with fibrillar structure were obtained upon self-assembly. Spectroscopic studies confirmed that both hydrogen bonding between peptide segments and π-π stacking between BTBT chromophores are responsible for the formation of the 3D fibrillar network observed by transmission electron microscopy. The hydrogel was successfully deposited on gold interdigitated electrodes and a conductivity up to 1.6 (±0.1) × 10-5 S cm-1 was measured.
Journal	Molecules
Volume Number	28
DOI	10.3390/molecules28072917
PubMed Central reference number	PMC10095725
Issue Number	7
PubMed reference number	37049680
e-ISSN	14203049
Language	English
Publisher	Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
Publisher Date	2023-03-24
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene peptide supramolecular hydrogel peptide-chromophore conjugate π-gel electrically conductive hydrogel
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Medicine Chemistry Drug Discovery Pharmaceutical Science Analytical Chemistry Molecular Medicine Organic Chemistry