Title
Hydrogels of Super-Long Helices to Synthesize Hybrid Ag-Helical Nanomaterials
Author
Guihua Li, Yitong Wang, Ling Wang, Aixin Song, Jingcheng Hao
Year
2016
Journal
Langmuir
Abstract
The gelation behavior of mixtures of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) and glutathione (GSH) in water is investigated. The system exhibits a structural transition of self-assembled hydrogels from nanofibers to nanohelix structures, and then to helical ribbons with increasing GSH concentration. Super-long helical nanofibers with left- and right-handed orientations are produced by tuning the concentration of GSH at a fixed concentration of NaDC. Random coil and β-sheet structures are significant for the formation of the helical structures, and are indicated by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The mechanical strength of the “weak” hydrogels is enhanced by the introduction of appropriate suitable amount of AgNO3. Furthermore, the controlled growth of Ag nanoparticles at spatially arranged locations along the nanohelices (hybrid Ag-helical nanomaterial) is readily achieved by UV reduction of Ag (I) ions on the supramolecular helical templates.
Instrument
J-810
Keywords
Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Stereochemistry, Nanostructures, Materials, Biochemistry