In Vivo Formation and Tracking of pi-Peptide Nanostructures

The photophysics associated with the self-assembly of pi-peptide molecules into 1-D nanostructures has been well established, thus revealing the creation of nanoscale electronic conduits in aqueous media. Such materials have therapeutic potential in many biomedical applications. In this work, we report the in vivo deployment of these pi-peptide nanostructures in brain tissue using photothrombotic stroke as a model application. A test peptide was used for brain injections, and the nanostructures formed were visualized with electron microscopy. A new peptide bearing a low-energy fluorescence dye was prepared to facilitate direct visualization of pi-peptide localization in the brain cavity by way of fluorescence microscopy. This work demonstrates feasibility for in vivo application of pi-peptide nanostructures toward pressing biomedical challenges.