Vetyionin

Note: Vetyionin is a fictional material used here to illustrate a scientific encyclopedia entry. It does not refer to a real substance.

Vetyionin is described in speculative science and science fiction as a self-assembling biopolymer that forms nanostructured networks. In the imagined canon, its repeating units resemble valine-, tyrosine-, and isoleucine-like moieties, creating alternating hydrophobic and polar interfaces that drive organized assembly.

Structure and properties: Under simulated physiological conditions, vetyionin forms cylindrical nanofibers and sheet-like meshes. Reported properties include high strength-to-weight ratio, chemical stability across broad pH ranges, and tunable electrical conductivity when doped with metal ions or organic dopants.

Synthesis: In the stories, vetyionin can be produced by a designed enzyme complex called vetyionase or by one-step chemical polymerization of specially prepared monomers.

Applications: Proposed uses span nanoscale conductive interconnects, biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering, and responsive smart materials for sensors.

History and reception: The earliest references appear in fictional works from the Arcadia Institute, dated around 2047. In-universe debates focus on reproducibility and physical plausibility, with some accounts claiming experimental demonstrations and others treating them as speculative. No real-world synthesis exists outside of fiction.

See also: Self-assembling polymers, nanomaterials, hypothetical compounds.