Cell-Driven Supramolecular Assembly of Organic Nanofibers

<br/>The assembly of supramolecular structures within living systems is an fascinating possibility for introducing artificial constructs and developing biomaterials capable of influencing and/or regulating the biological responses of living organisms. I will report on our study of 2,6-diphenyl-3,5-dimethyl-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene-4,4-dioxide (DTTO) molecules that self-assemble into fibers through a “biologically assisted” polymorphic form. The phenomenon, discovered more than 10 years ago by the group of Giovanna Barbarella, is still partially unknown and its potential not fully developed. A welth of characterization techniques show that cell-grown DTTO fibers present a unique set of specific morphological, optical, and electrical properties. Monitoring the process of fiber formation in cells with time-resolved<br/>photoluminescence, it is established that cellular machinery is necessary for fiber production and a non-classical nucleation mechanism for their growth is postulated. These biomaterials may have disruptive applications in the stimulation and sense of living cells, but more crucially, the study of their genesis and properties broadens the understanding of life beyond the native components of cells.