Catalytic degradation of 4-Nitrophenol and methylene blue by bioinspired polydopamine coated dipeptide structures

In terms of high surface roughness and porous structure, PDOP coated dipeptide structures can be used in adsorption studies through their functional groups. Besides, PDOP coated dipeptide structures decorated with plasmonic nanoparticles have the potential to be used in application areas such as catalysis, drug release. Firstly, the structures obtained as a result of self-assembly in the PDOP coating and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) decoration process of PDOP coated flower-like peptide structures were examined. Morphological characterization was performed Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) method. The structural transformation of the dipeptide was performed Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy method (FTIR). Then, the usage of PDOP coated diphenylalanine (FF) dipeptide bio-inspired materials was decorated with AgNPs, catalysis and adsorption studies were investigated. For this purpose, the conversion of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) molecule to 4-aminophenol (4AP) was carried out rapidly with a low amount (1.5 mg) of bio-inspired peptide structures. Also, the reduction of the methylene blue (MB) molecule was performed. Because of the negative surface charge of the PDOP coated dipeptide molecules, the blue color of the positively charged MB molecules is quickly removed and reduced from the aqueous medium. In this way, it was possible to use an adsorbent to remove and degradation some molecules from the solvent medium, drug carrier for the medicinal applications, and as a scaffold in tissue engineering applications. [Display omitted] •Silver nanoparticles decorated polydopamine coated diphenylalanine dipeptide (AgNPs@PDA@FF) composite was prepared and characterized.•AgNPs@PDA@FF materials was used catalytical conversations of 4-Nitrophenol•Low amount AgNPs@PDA@FF was used reductions of the methylene blue molecules in aquenous solutions