New cylindrical peptide assemblies defined by extended parallel β-sheets

A new approach to non-covalent peptide-based nanotubular or rod-like structures is presented, whereby the monomeric units are preorganised into a β-strand geometry that templates the formation of an extended and unusual parallel β-sheet rod-like structure. The conformational constraint is introduced by Huisgen cycloaddition to give a triazole-based macrocycle, with the resulting self-assembled structures stabilized by a well-defined series of intermolecular hydrogen bonds.