We have designed an amphipathic peptide, AM1, that can self-assemble at the air-water interface to form an interfacial ensemble capable of switching between a mechanically strong cohesive film state and a mobile detergent state in response to changes in the solution conditions. The mechanical properties of the AM1 ensemble in the cohesive film state are qualitatively equivalent to the protein β-LG, while in the mobile detergent state they are equivalent to the low molecular weight surfactant, SDS. In this work the foaming properties of AM1 are compared to those of β-LG and SDS at the same weight concentration and it is found that AM1 adsorbs rapidly to the interface, initially forming a dense foam like that formed by SDS and superior to β-LG. In addition, under solution conditions where interfacially adsorbed AM1 forms a cohesive film state the foam stability is high, comparable to β-LG. However when the interfacially adsorbed AM1 forms a foam under detergent-state conditions, the foam stability is poor. We have achieved control of foam stability through the design of a peptide that exhibits stimuli-responsive changes in the extent of intermolecular interactions between peptide molecules adsorbed at the air-water interface. These results illustrate the exciting potential of peptide surfactants to form a new class of stimuli-responsive foaming agents.
Foaming properties of a peptide designed to form stimuli-responsive interfacial films.