Conducting Core-Shell Nanowires by Amyloid Nanofiber Templated Polymerization

The preparation of conducting polymer nanowires in aqueous solutions is a challenging goal, especially for applications in nanobioelectronics. Here, we show that amyloid nanofibers template the formation of conducting polyaniline nanowires with a core-shell architecture. The nanofibers exhibit hydrophobic pockets that presumably preassemble the aniline monomers. The template directs polymer morphology as it favors the formation of linear polymer chains, suppresses defects in the polymer chain which are detrimental to charge transport and induces chiral helicity into the polymer. This strategy has the potential of being applied to other polymers than polyaniline and might open up new possibilities to synthesize biocompatible and conducting polymer nanowires with prospects for applications in, for example, sensing, neuronal tissue engineering, and electrostimulated stem cell differentiation.