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Water-regulated viscosity-plasticity phase transitions in a peptide self-assembled muscle-like hydrogel

Author

Listed:
  • Yu Fang

    (Zhejiang University
    Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Junhui Shi

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine)

  • Juan Liang

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

  • Dan Ma

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine)

  • Huaimin Wang

    (Westlake University
    Westlake Institute for Advanced Study)

Abstract

The self-assembly of small molecules through non-covalent interactions is an emerging and promising strategy for building dynamic, stable, and large-scale structures. One remaining challenge is making the non-covalent interactions occur in the ideal positions to generate strength comparable to that of covalent bonds. This work shows that small molecule YAWF can self-assemble into a liquid-crystal hydrogel (LCH), the mechanical properties of which could be controlled by water. LCH can be used to construct stable solid threads with a length of over 1 meter by applying an external force on 2 µL of gel solution followed by water-regulated crystallization. These solid threads can support 250 times their weight. Cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) analysis unravels the three-dimensional structure of the liquid-crystal fiber (elongated helix with C2 symmetry) at an atomic resolution. The multiscale mechanics of this material depend on the specificity of the molecular structure, and the water-controlled hierarchical and sophisticated self-assembly.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu Fang & Junhui Shi & Juan Liang & Dan Ma & Huaimin Wang, 2025. "Water-regulated viscosity-plasticity phase transitions in a peptide self-assembled muscle-like hydrogel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56415-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56415-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dongdong Wu & Nairiti Sinha & Jeeyoung Lee & Bryan P. Sutherland & Nicole I. Halaszynski & Yu Tian & Jeffrey Caplan & Huixi Violet Zhang & Jeffery G. Saven & Christopher J. Kloxin & Darrin J. Pochan, 2019. "Polymers with controlled assembly and rigidity made with click-functional peptide bundles," Nature, Nature, vol. 574(7780), pages 658-662, October.
    2. Sanket A. Deshmukh & Lee A. Solomon & Ganesh Kamath & H. Christopher Fry & Subramanian K. R. S. Sankaranarayanan, 2016. "Water ordering controls the dynamic equilibrium of micelle–fibre formation in self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, November.
    3. Qigang Wang & Justin L. Mynar & Masaru Yoshida & Eunji Lee & Myongsoo Lee & Kou Okuro & Kazushi Kinbara & Takuzo Aida, 2010. "High-water-content mouldable hydrogels by mixing clay and a dendritic molecular binder," Nature, Nature, vol. 463(7279), pages 339-343, January.
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