We report a mussel-inspired strategy of polydopamine (PDA) coating to stabilize and functionalize J-aggregate nanotubes (NTs) formed by supramolecular self-assembly of an amphiphilic cyanine dye called C8S3 in aqueous media. Optimization of the coating condition by changing the incubation time in a slightly basic media of dopamine with different concentrations leads to conformal wrapping of the PDA layer with controllable thickness on the surface of the NTs. Compared to noncoated pristine C8S3 NTs, these PDA-coated NTs show enhanced stability against dilution, heating, and photobleaching. Moreover, the PDA layer wrapping around the NTs serves as an adhesive for the adsorption of a variety of metal ions and electroless deposition of the metal nanoparticles. Such stabilized and functionalized NT composites may offer a robust synthetic J-aggregate system to mimic the structure and function of light-harvesting complexes and reaction centers in photosynthetic systems.

中文翻译：

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受贻贝启发的表面涂层，用于稳定和功能化由两亲花青染料组成的超分子 J-聚集体纳米管

我们报告了一种受贻贝启发的聚多巴胺 (PDA) 涂层策略来稳定和功能化J- 由称为 C8S3 的两亲性花青染料在水性介质中的超分子自组装形成的聚合纳米管 (NTs)。通过改变不同浓度的微碱性多巴胺介质中的孵育时间来优化涂层条件，导致 PDA 层在 NTs 表面上具有可控厚度的保形包裹。与未涂层的原始 C8S3 NT 相比，这些 PDA 涂层的 NT 显示出增强的抗稀释、加热和光漂白稳定性。此外，包裹在 NTs 周围的 PDA 层用作吸附各种金属离子和无电沉积金属纳米颗粒的粘合剂。这种稳定和功能化的 NT 复合材料可以提供稳健的合成J- 聚合系统模拟光合作用系统中捕光复合物和反应中心的结构和功能。