Silaffin-Inspired Peptide Assemblies Template Silica Particles with Variable Morphologies

A peptidic system is described containing linear and branched peptides based on the RRIL motif that is found in silaffin proteins in diatoms. These peptides form structured assemblies, in which the resulting morphology is dictated by single-residue changes in their primary sequences as well as by changes in stereochemistry. The resulting supramolecular assemblies serve as templates that can precipitate nanostructured silica in a biomimetic manner under mild reaction conditions.