Dynamics of Molecular Self‐Assembly of Short Peptides at Liquid–Solid Interfaces – Effect of Charged Amino Acid Point Mutations

Abstract Self‐organizing solid‐binding peptides on atomically flat solid surfaces offer a unique bio/nano hybrid platform, useful for understanding the basic nature of biology/solid coupling and their practical applications. The surface behavior of peptides is determined by their molecular folding, which is influenced by various factors and is challenging to study. Here, the effect of charged amino acids is studied on the self‐assembly behavior of a directed evolution selected graphite‐binding dodecapeptide on graphite surface. Two mutations, M6 and M8, are designed to introduce negatively and positively charged moieties, respectively, at the anchoring domain of the wild‐type (WT) peptide, affecting both binding and assembly. The questions addressed here are whether mutant peptides exhibit molecular crystal formation and demonstrate molecular recognition on the solid surface based on the specific mutations. Frequency‐modulated atomic force microscopy is used for observations of the surface processes dynamically in water at molecular resolution over several hours at the ambient. The results indicate that while the mutants display distinct folding and surface behavior, each homogeneously nucleates and forms 2D self‐organized patterns, akin to the WT peptide. However, their growth dynamics, domain formation, and crystalline lattice structures differ significantly. The results represent a significant step toward the rational design of bio/solid interfaces, potent facilitators of a variety of future implementations.