Metalloporphyrin nanotube fabrication using peptide nanotubes as templates

Protoporphyrin IX Zn(ll) has been demonstrated to form metalloporphyrin coatings on peptide nanotubes via hydrogen bonds and produce metalloporphyrin nanotubes. This diacid metalloporphyrin was stabilized on the peptide nanotube surfaces with two types of hydrogen bonds, intermolecular hydrogen bond between the carboxylic acid of metalloporphyrins and the amide of peptide nanotube and intermolecular hydrogen bond between the carboxylic acids of neighboring metalloporphyrins. Since previous study indicates that the peptide nanotubes can potentially be assembled as arrays, the applications of metalloporphyrin nanotubes to nanoscale chemical sensors or photonics may be possible