The peptide RADA16 can self-assemble into sheets—exactly how is the subject of research.

Nanotechnology.  It all sounds great until a grey goo takes over the—WAIT!  This is reality, and, like any reality, there’s a lot more than appears to casual observation.  For example, one of the attractions of nanotechnology is the promise of self-assembly.  After all, every living organism manages to create its own structure, so we know it can be done.  Of course, the challenge is in the details.  To examine the details of self-assembly, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Nagoya Institute of Technology investigated a particular peptide, called RADA16-I. The peptides were formed into nanofibers in solution under sonication from an ultrasonic cleaner.

For further information visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

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