Ln3+-triggered self-assembly of a heterotrimer collagen mimetic peptide into luminescent nanofibers

Type I collagen, the most abundant and arguably the most complex molecule in the human body, is an ABB heterotrimer that self-assembles to form well-defined nanofibers. We herein for the first time report the construction of peptides that could simultaneously mimic the heterotrimer composition and the self-assembly features of Type I collagen.