Small molecule assemblies with a bulletproof design: the aramid amphiphile
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EDT
Ty Christoff-Tempesta, PhD Candidate
Materials Science and Engineering
Small molecule self-assembly offers a powerful bottom-up approach to producing nanostructures with high surface areas, tunable surfaces, and defined internal order. Historically, the dynamic nature of these systems has limited their use to specific cases, especially biomedical applications, in solvated environments.
In the talk, Christoff-Tempesta will present a self-assembling small molecule platform, the aramid amphiphile (AA), that overcomes these dynamic limitations. AAs incorporate a Kevlar-inspired domain within each molecule to produce strong interactions between molecules. Christoff-Tempesta and fellow researchers have observed AAs spontaneously form nanoribbons when added to water with aspect ratios exceeding 4000:1. Robust internal interactions suppress the ability of AAs to move between assemblies and result in nanoribbons with mechanical properties rivaling silk.
The team harnesses this stability to – for the first time – extend small molecule assemblies to the solid-state, forming macroscopic threads that are easily handled and support 200 times their weight when dried. The AA platform offers a novel route to extend small molecule self-assembly to aligned macroscopic materials and beyond solvated environments.
Attendees can join and participate in the series via Zoom. Meeting ID#: 860 986 455.