journal article·2026-01

Underlying Polymorphism: Superhelical Crystallization Induces Architectural and Functional Diversity

Yan Zhang, Tong Pan, Sarah Guerin, Jiahao Zhang, Yiming Tang, Zengfeng Qiu, Qi Li, Jiaojiao Zhang, Feng Wei, Jiqian Wang, Rusen Yang, Deqing Mei, Damien Thompson, Guanghong Wei, Hai Xu, Kai Tao

Small· Volume 22· Issue 6
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Crystallized peptide assemblies have demonstrated useful physicochemical and electromechanical features due to the highly ordered supramolecular packing driven by efficient and extensive non‐covalent interactions. However, the structural polymorphism of the bioinspired self‐assemblies poses challenges for their rational design and scale production as sustainable, eco‐friendly, and tailorable materials for technology applications. Here, it is demonstrated that peptide polymorphic crystallization is a hierarchical process, evolving from initially flexible, twisted nanofibrils bundling to form ribbons, then ripening to robust, plate‐like crystals composed of superhelices, as observed using high‐resolution microscopy and crystallography supported by molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical calculations. The hierarchical process accounts for the known morphological diversity of peptide crystals and provides a mechanism of controllably restricting the assembly to create only specific supramolecular structures as demanded. Especially, the superhelical organization enables high‐efficiency energy transformation, resulting in tremendous photoluminescent, optical waveguiding, and electromechanical energy‐harvesting potential. These findings endorse the feasibility of connecting the bioinspired flexible aggregations and robust crystallizations.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials · Chemical Synthesis and Analysis · Diatoms and Algae Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Advanced Equipment Manufacturing and Measurement Technology School of Mechanical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 China

Zhejiang‐Israel Joint Laboratory of Self‐Assembling Functional Materials ZJU‐Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center Hangzhou 311215 China

State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology China University of Petroleum (East China) Qingdao 266580 China

Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Green Manufacturing at Yantai Yantai Shandong 264000 China

Department of Physics State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education) Fudan University Shanghai 200438 China

Department of Physics and Bernal Institute University of Limerick Castletroy, Co. Limerick V94T9PX Ireland

Zhejiang‐Ireland Joint Laboratory of Bio‐Organic Dielectrics & Devices Hangzhou 310058 China

School of Mechanical Engineering Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou 310018 China

State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering Institute of Process Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China

School of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Xidian University Xi'an 710126 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities · National Key Research and Development Program of China

References (62)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1038/s41586-024-08041-410.1038/s41586-024-08041-4 ↗
2. 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.10124010.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101240 ↗
3. 10.1038/s41570-020-0215-y10.1038/s41570-020-0215-y ↗
4. 10.1039/b915765b10.1039/b915765b ↗
5. 10.1038/nbt87410.1038/nbt874 ↗
6. 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c0008910.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00089 ↗
7. 10.1007/s42242-024-00297-z10.1007/s42242-024-00297-z ↗
8. 10.1038/s41570-019-0129-810.1038/s41570-019-0129-8 ↗
9. 10.1126/science.aam975610.1126/science.aam9756 ↗
10. 10.1007/s42242-024-00294-210.1007/s42242-024-00294-2 ↗
11. 10.1002/adma.20180748110.1002/adma.201807481 ↗
12. 10.1126/science.abb833010.1126/science.abb8330 ↗
13. 10.1021/jacs.2c1182310.1021/jacs.2c11823 ↗
14. 10.1021/cr900377t10.1021/cr900377t ↗
15. 10.1021/nn300015g10.1021/nn300015g ↗
16. 10.1038/s41467-025-61331-x10.1038/s41467-025-61331-x ↗
17. 10.1002/smll.20230617510.1002/smll.202306175 ↗
18. 10.1021/nl802813f10.1021/nl802813f ↗
19. 10.1126/science.abj875410.1126/science.abj8754 ↗
20. 10.1016/j.mattod.2019.04.00210.1016/j.mattod.2019.04.002 ↗
21. 10.1038/s41565-024-01766-310.1038/s41565-024-01766-3 ↗
22. 10.1038/s41586-024-07408-x10.1038/s41586-024-07408-x ↗
23. 10.1021/acsnano.2c1100610.1021/acsnano.2c11006 ↗
24. 10.1021/acsnano.9b0821710.1021/acsnano.9b08217 ↗
25. 10.1039/C9EE02875G10.1039/C9EE02875G ↗
26. 10.1007/s42242-022-00186-310.1007/s42242-022-00186-3 ↗
27. 10.1038/nnano.2015.2710.1038/nnano.2015.27 ↗
28. 10.1039/C9CS00085B10.1039/C9CS00085B ↗
29. 10.1002/anie.20200870210.1002/anie.202008702 ↗
30. 10.1119/1.1937510.1119/1.19375 ↗
31. 10.1002/anie.20150581310.1002/anie.201505813 ↗
32. 10.1115/1.170462510.1115/1.1704625 ↗
33. 10.1073/pnas.211096111810.1073/pnas.2110961118 ↗
34. 10.1038/nnano.2011.10210.1038/nnano.2011.102 ↗
35. 10.1126/science.112400510.1126/science.1124005 ↗
36. 10.1021/acs.cgd.8b0083510.1021/acs.cgd.8b00835 ↗
37. 10.1021/accountsmr.2c0012410.1021/accountsmr.2c00124 ↗
38. 10.1126/science.abf215510.1126/science.abf2155 ↗
39. 10.1038/s41467-021-22895-610.1038/s41467-021-22895-6 ↗
40. 10.1038/nmat504510.1038/nmat5045 ↗
41. 10.1021/la103427310.1021/la1034273 ↗
42. 10.1038/nchem.273810.1038/nchem.2738 ↗
43. 10.1038/s41565-024-01657-710.1038/s41565-024-01657-7 ↗
44. 10.1038/s41563-019-0343-210.1038/s41563-019-0343-2 ↗
45. 10.1021/ja107069f10.1021/ja107069f ↗
46. 10.1002/adma.20240167810.1002/adma.202401678 ↗
47. 10.1039/C9CP02561H10.1039/C9CP02561H ↗
48. 10.1126/science.687917010.1126/science.6879170 ↗
49. 10.1002/prot.2031010.1002/prot.20310 ↗
50. 10.1016/j.cpc.2007.02.04510.1016/j.cpc.2007.02.045 ↗
51. 10.1103/PhysRevB.46.667110.1103/PhysRevB.46.6671 ↗
52. 10.1063/1.338234410.1063/1.3382344 ↗
53. 10.1103/PhysRevB.59.175810.1103/PhysRevB.59.1758 ↗
54. 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.03510510.1103/PhysRevB.72.035105 ↗
55. 10.1063/1.170994410.1063/1.1709944 ↗
56. 10.1107/S002188989200487410.1107/S0021889892004874 ↗
57. 10.1107/S002188981103897010.1107/S0021889811038970 ↗
58. 10.1002/jcc.2003510.1002/jcc.20035 ↗
59. 10.1002/jcc.2029110.1002/jcc.20291 ↗
60. 10.1063/1.46439710.1063/1.464397 ↗
61. 10.1063/1.240842010.1063/1.2408420 ↗
62. L.Schrodinger The PyMOL molecular graphics system Version 1.82015.