Formation of nanotapes by co-assembly of triblock peptide copolymers and polythiophenes in aqueous solution

Nanotapes are formed by the co-assembly of triblock peptide copolymers with an amino acid-substituted polythiophene derivative (PTT). The driving force for the assembly is ionic interaction (complex coacervation). These nanotapes were visualized by atomic force microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The interactions between the triblock peptide copolymers and the PTT are also expressed in the steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectra. The steady-state spectra indicate that upon interaction with the peptide copolymer, the backbone of the PTT adopts a rather twisted, and definitely less, aggregated conformation. The time-resolved fluorescence decay studies further confirm this interpretation. The structure of these nanotapes at the mesoscopic scale depends, among other physical chemical parameters, on the concentrations of its constituents.