Facile Control over the Supramolecular Ordering of Self-assembled Peptide Scaffolds by Simultaneous Assembly with a Polysacharride

Abstract

Enabling control over macromolecular ordering and the spatial distribution of structures formed via the mechanisms of molecular self-assembly is a challenge that could yield a range of new functional materials. Here, we show that via co-assembly with a highly charged polysaccharide, fucoidan, the microscale ordering of Fmoc-FRGDF peptide fibrils and subsequent mechanical properties of the resultant hydrogel can be effectively manipulated without disruption to the nanofibrillar structure of the assembly