Peptide self-assembles with bionic properties have been widely utilized for bioactive drugs and biomedical materials. Collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) gains more attention due to its unique advantages in biosecurity and function. Unfortunately, the self-assembly mechanism of CMP, particularly the effect of intermolecular forces on its self-assembly behavior and morphology, is still unrecognized. Herein, the hydrophilic glycidol (GCD) and hydrophobic Y-glycidyl ether oxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GLH) were grafted onto the side chains of CMP through the ring-opening reaction (GCD/CMP, GLH/CMP). Subsequently, the effects of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions on the self-assembly behavior and morphology of CMP were further studied. The results substantiated that the GCD/CMP and GLH/CMP self-assembly followed “nucleation-growth” mechanism, and the supererogatory hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups prolonged the nucleation and growth time of CMP self-assembly. Noted that the hydrophilic interaction had stronger driving effects than hydrophobic interaction on the self-assembly of CMP. The GCD/CMP and GLH/CMP self-assembles exhibited fibrous 3D network and microsphere morphology, respectively. Furthermore, the GLH/CMP self-assembles had better resistance to degradation. Consequently, the microtopography and degradation properties of CMP self-assembles could be controlled by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions between CMP, which would further provide a way for subsequent purposeful design of biomedical materials.

中文翻译：

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亲水或疏水相互作用对胶原模拟肽自组装行为和微观形态的影响

具有仿生特性的肽自组装体已被广泛用于生物活性药物和生物医学材料。胶原蛋白模拟肽（CMP）由于其在生物安全性和功能方面的独特优势而受到越来越多的关注。不幸的是，CMP的自组装机制，尤其是分子间力对其自组装行为和形态的影响仍然未被认识。在此，通过开环反应（GCD / CMP，GLH / CMP）将亲水性缩水甘油（GCD）和疏水性Y-缩水甘油基醚氧基丙基三甲氧基硅烷（GLH）接枝到CMP的侧链上。随后，进一步研究了亲水和疏水相互作用对CMP自组装行为和形态的影响。结果证实，GCD / CMP和GLH / CMP自组装遵循“成核-生长”机制，超强亲水性和疏水性基团延长了CMP自组装的成核和生长时间。注意，在CMP的自组装过程中，亲水相互作用比疏水相互作用具有更强的驱动作用。GCD / CMP和GLH / CMP自组装分别显示纤维3D网络和微球形态。此外，GLH / CMP自组装具有更好的抗降解性。因此，CMP自组装的微观形貌和降解特性可以通过CMP之间的亲水和疏水相互作用来控制，这将进一步为生物医学材料的后续目标设计提供一条途径。注意，在CMP的自组装过程中，亲水相互作用比疏水相互作用具有更强的驱动作用。GCD / CMP和GLH / CMP自组装分别显示纤维3D网络和微球形态。此外，GLH / CMP自组装具有更好的抗降解性。因此，CMP自组装的微观形貌和降解特性可以通过CMP之间的亲水和疏水相互作用来控制，这将进一步为生物医学材料的后续目标设计提供一条途径。注意，在CMP的自组装过程中，亲水相互作用比疏水相互作用具有更强的驱动作用。GCD / CMP和GLH / CMP自组装分别显示纤维3D网络和微球形态。此外，GLH / CMP自组装具有更好的抗降解性。因此，CMP自组装的微观形貌和降解特性可以通过CMP之间的亲水和疏水相互作用来控制，这将进一步为生物医学材料的后续目标设计提供一条途径。