Designing optically transparent photo-crosslinked peptoid nanosheets for imaging applications

Abstract

Peptoid bilayer nanosheets are a new class of biocompatible 2D nanomaterial with broad applications, including sensing, membrane mimicry and pathogen binding. They are formed from the self-assembly of sequence-defined peptoid chains and can be readily functionalized to tune their properties. In order to broaden their utility, there is a need to improve their mech. stability. Here, we create nanosheets that can function as a mech. robust, optically transparent interfacial barrier for covering microfluidic channels, microscopy grids and other sample chambers. This barrier would increase hydration control in otherwise open-channel environments, permitting water-sensitive, non-destructive IR spectroscopy to be incorporated into multimodal imaging platforms. Therefore, we explored new peptoid analogs contg. photo-crosslinkable side chains that can form intra-monolayer as well as inter-layer covalent bonds. These constructs can be co-assembled in various ratios to achieve a range of desirable mech. properties to provide a new route to ultrathin, mech. robust, 2D nanomaterials that serve as optically transparent interfacial barriers for a variety of imaging techniques.