Ordering of diphenylalanine micro/nanotubes prepared in PDMS microchannels with and without electric field

Abstract

Diphenylalanine is a dipeptide known for its capacity to self-assemble into various nanostructures, including nanotubes and nanowires, particularly in aqueous environments. These nanostructures possess distinctive properties that render them suitable for a variety of applications, such as biosensors and optical devices. Here we report a method of growing unidirectional diphenylalanine micro/nanotubes inside a microchannel device. Characteristic and potential diagnostic applications are discussed. Micro/nanotubes were synthesized within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymeric microchannels, both with and without the application of an electric field. Morphological analyses revealed the potential for alignment of the microstructures within the microchannels. The findings indicate that micro/nanotubes can be effectively generated in PDMS microchannels under both experimental conditions, highlighting notable morphological differences and a pronounced degree of unidirectionality of the microstructures. In spite of being reported on literature, electric field application is not guarantee of unidirectional growing requiring special care due to field inhomogeneity.