Direct experimental observation of the aggregation of α-amino acids into 
100–200 nm clusters in aqueous solution

Hagmeier, Daniel; Ruesing, Johannes; Fenske, Tassilo; Klein, Heinz-Werner; Schmuck, Carsten; Schrader, Wolfgang; Minas da Piedade, Manuel E.; Epple, Matthias

doi:10.1039/C2RA01352E

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Direct experimental observation of the aggregation of α-amino acids into 100–200 nm clusters in aqueous solution

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Klein, Heinz-Werner
Service Department Schrader (MS), Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Max Planck Society;

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Schrader, Wolfgang
Service Department Schrader (MS), Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Hagmeier, D., Ruesing, J., Fenske, T., Klein, H.-W., Schmuck, C., Schrader, W., et al. (2012). Direct experimental observation of the aggregation of α-amino acids into 100–200 nm clusters in aqueous solution. RSC Advances, 2(11), 4690-4696. doi:10.1039/C2RA01352E.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-001M-0000-0014-C9B9-E

Abstract

Spherical supramolecular aggregates of α-amino acids with a typical diameter of 100–200 nm are formed spontaneously after dissolution in water at a concentration of a few mM, i.e. well below the solubility limit. Their presence was shown by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ESI mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). There is a dynamic equilibrium between the aggregates and dissolved individual molecules which allows them to penetrate through dialysis membranes and filters. The same phenomenon was observed for para-amino salicylic acid and two dipeptides. Thermodynamic considerations suggest an entropy-controlled process.