Self-assembly of synthetic peptides control conformation and optical properties of a zwitterionic polythiophene derivative

The optical transitions of a chiral, three-substituted polythiophene with an amino acid function can be tuned by interactions with synthetic peptides. The addition of a positively charged peptide with a random-coil formation will force the polymer to adopt a nonplanar conformation, and the intensity of the emitted light is increased and blue-shifted. After the addition of a negatively charged peptide with a random-coil conformation, the backbone of the polymer adopts a planar conformation and an aggregation of the polymer chains occurs, seen as a red shift and a decrease of the intensity of the emitted light. By adding the positively charged peptide designed to form a four-helix bundle with the negatively charged peptide, the polymer aggregates are disrupted and the intensity of the emitted light is increased because of separation of the polymer chains. This technique could be used as a platform for making novel sensors and biomolecular switches.