Figure 8.

Schematic drawing of the possible supramolecular structure of amelogenin nanoribbons that form at the oil-water interface. Initially a reverse micelle forms with the hydrophobic portion of the molecules (red) exposed to the surface. The hydrophobic portions can now interact with each other and form unique bonds that are most likely based on calcium bridges and Van der Waals bonds and lead to the formation of structural motifs like β-sheets. Such amelogenin dimers will grow by the addition of other dimers that are released from the reverse micelles soon as these micelles disintegrate at the water-oil interface. Gradually ribbons will form by addition of segments to its ends. Segments repulse each other at the long axis to electrostatic charges that derive from the hydrophilic portion (blue) lining the long axis of the ribbons. Electrostatic repulsion will result in parallel alignment of ribbons over time and also facilitates oriented grows of ribbons along their long axes.