Scientists from the City University of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), the United States, and the University of Strathclyde, the United States, have discovered a new way to create emulsions with tunable properties, based on very simple biological molecules. Dr. Rein V. Ulijn of the ASRC and Strathclyde’s Dr. Tell Tuttle used a combination of experiments and simulations to show that dramatically variable oil-in-water emulsions may be produced from tripeptides.
The research group showed the potential to form emulsions with tunable stability by mixing oil, water and designed peptides composed of specific sequences of just three amino acids – the building blocks of proteins which are the structural and functional units of all living systems. “We are using the same biological building materials that nature uses – but in much simpler ways – to form these short peptides. These emulsions are biodegradable to amino acids, which are safe for use in food and drugs,” said Ulijn.
“This project provides an excellent example of how fundamental science can be rapidly translated to real-world applications when the right team is in place. The Advanced Science Research Center brings together top researchers, provides them with a creative environment and the most advanced equipment to spark innovative approaches to complex scientific challenges,” said Dr. Gillian M. Small, at ASRC.
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Tunable peptide emulsifiers
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