High-Efficiency Fluorescence through Bioinspired Supramolecular Self-Assembly

Peptide
self-assembly has attracted extensive interest in the field
of eco-friendly optoelectronics and bioimaging due to its inherent
biocompatibility, intrinsic fluorescence, and flexible modulation.
However, the practical application of such materials was hindered
by the relatively low quantum yield of such assemblies. Here, inspired
by the molecular structure of BFPms1, we explored the “self-assembly
locking strategy” to design and manipulate the assembly of
metal-stabilized cyclic­(l-histidine-d-histidine)
into peptide material with the high-fluorescence efficiency. We used
this bioorganic material as an emissive layer in photo- and electroluminescent
prototypes, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing self-assembling
peptides to fabricate a biointegrated microchip that incorporates
eco-friendly and tailored optoelectronic properties. We further employed
a “self-encapsulation” strategy for constructing an
advanced nanocarrier with integrated in situ monitoring.
The strategy of the supramolecular capture of functional components
exemplifies the use of bioinspired organic chemistry to provide frontiers
of smart materials, potentially allowing a better interface between
sustainable optoelectronics and biomedical applications.