Molecularly tuned peptideassemblies at the liquid–solid interface studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract

We report here the modulation of a peptide assembly with a molecular template at the liquid–solid interface using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A lamella structure is observed for the assembly of pentapeptide 5Ala, and the introduction of the terpyridine derivative (BT–O–C16) gives rise to co-assembled molecular architectures with pentapeptide monomers and dimers encapsulated in the nanoscale cavities of the BT–O–C16 network. The selectivity of the molecular networks could allow for programmable construction of organic–peptide architectures.