Investigating the Impact of Tripeptide Doping on Gel Noodle Mechanics Using SANS

Supramolecular gels tailored into specific structures such as 'gel noodles' play a crucial role in advancing fields like biomedical devices and soft electronics. These gels, derived from small molecules (e.g., 2NapFF), exhibit unique properties in synthetic tunability and biocompatibility. However, they face limitations in mechanical strength. This proposal addresses this challenge by doping 2NapFF with a tripeptide 2NapFFD, which includes an additional carboxylic acid in the alkyl chain, to enhance the mechanical stability of the gel noodles through improved cross-linking. We have shown that the multicomponent system of 2NapFF and 2NapFFD favours self-sorting in aqueous solution, but the self-assembly can be tuned by external stimuli. The analysis of the mechanical properties of the gel noodles suggests an innovative approach to adjusting their stiffness and resilience by varying the ratio of 2NapFF to 2NapFFD. The use of SANS is pivotal in this research to elucidate the interactions of the peptides within the solution and the gel matrix. By selective deuterated labelling of 2NapFF, we will be able to isolate the scattering behaviour of 2NapFFD both in solution and in the gel noodles, providing critical insights into the molecular basis of the enhanced mechanical properties. This investigation not only seeks to advance our understanding of supramolecular gel systems but also promises to stimulate the development of next-generation materials for diverse applications.