The present invention is directed to a composition useful for making
homogeneously mineralized self assembled peptide-amphiphile nanofibers
and nanofiber gels. The composition is generally a solution comprised of
a positively or negatively charged peptide-amphiphile and a like signed
ion from the mineral. Mixing this solution with a second solution
containing a dissolved counter-ion of the mineral and/or a second
oppositely charged peptide amphiphile, results in the rapid self assembly
of the peptide-amphiphiles into a nanofiber gel and templated
mineralization of the ions. Templated mineralization of the initially
dissolved mineral cations and anions in the mixture occurs with
preferential orientation of the mineral crystals along the fiber surfaces
within the nanofiber gel. One advantage of the present invention is that
it results in homogenous growth of the mineral throughout the nanofiber
gel. Another advantage of the present invention is that the nanofiber gel
formation and mineralization reactions occur in a single mixing step and
under substantially neutral or physiological pH conditions. These
homogeneous nanostructured composite materials are useful for medical
applications especially the regeneration of damaged bone in mammals. This
invention is directed to the synthesis of peptide-amphiphiles with more
than one amphiphilic moment and to supramolecular compositions comprised
of such multi-dimensional peptide-amphiphiles. Supramolecular
compositions can be formed by self assembly of multi-dimensional
peptide-amphiphiles by mixing them with a solution comprising a
monovalent cation.