Coarse-grained modeling of self-assembly processes in peptide amphiphiles systems

PHYS 366

YounJoon Jung, yjjung@snu.ac.kr, School of Chemistry, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Peptide amphiphile systems are new kinds of materials which consist of hydrophilic head groups and hydrophobic tail groups linked by poly-peptide bonds. When dissolved in solution they undergo self-assembly processes to produce diverse supramolecular structures such as spherical micelles and cylindrical tubes, depending on the pH and salt concentrations. Due to possible applications in medicine such as drug deliver systems, peptide amphiphiles appear as promising candidates for tailor-made nano/bio-materials. We are developing coarse-grained models for simulations of self-assembly processes in peptide amphiphile systems. Based on our coarse-grained models, we present our preliminary results on elucidating what are the driving forces in the self-assembly processes and how the resulting supramolecular structures are affected by pH and salt concentrations. We also show comparison between results from atomistic simulations and from coarse-grained model simulations.
 

General Posters
7:30 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Sci-Mix

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007