School of Chemistry

Amalia Aggeli

Lecturer
Research section: Physical Chemistry

Contact details

Keywords

Molecular self-assembly
Self-assembling peptides
Nanostructured Materials

Research interests

My research focuses on understanding molecular self-assembly in biology and on using biologically-inspired self-assembly as a route to engineering novel functional nanostructured materials and devices. The ubiquitous in protein structures beta-sheet motif, is at the centre of our investigations. We have discovered and extensively study with a wide range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, rationally designed beta-sheet-forming peptides that give rise to µm-long polymers,such as nanotapes, ribbons, fibrils, and fibres, which form nematic liquid crystalline solutions, gels and single-molecule thick surface coatings.

The potential applications of these novel peptidic materials in nanotechnology, medicine, personal care products and as responsive industrial materials, is assessed. This research programme is carried out at the Centre for Molecular Nanoscience (CMNS), in collaboration with other departments and industrial partners.

Useful links

CMNS   
   
   

Selected publications

Hierarchical self-assembly of chiral units as a model for peptide beta-sheet tapes, ribbons, fibrils and fibres, Aggeli, A., Nyrkova, I. et al Proc. Natl. Ac. Sci. USA, 98, 11857-11862, 2001

pH as a trigger of peptide beta-sheet self-assembly and reversible switching between nematic and isotropic phases , Aggeli, A, Bell, M., Carrick, L, Fishwick, C, Harding, R. Mawer, P, Radford, S, Strong, A, Boden N, J.Am.Chem.Soc., 125, 9619-9628, 2003

Adsorption and self-assembly of peptides on mica substrates. Whitehouse C, Fang JY, Aggeli A, Bell M, Brydson R, Fishwick CWG, Henderson JR, Knobler CM, Owens RW, Thomson NH, Smith DA, Boden N. Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. 44, 1965-1968 2005

Self-assembling peptide nanotubes, Scanlon, S., Aggeli A., Nano Today, 3, 22-30, 2008