Peptides are ubiquitously found in nature fulfilling diverse and important roles. They can act as cellular modulators, hormones, antimicrobial agents, among many other functions. They can also serve as in vitro models for studying protein structure and function. Current advances in chemical synthesis and in silico approaches have allowed the rational design of peptides for specific applications, including nanotechnology. Under specific design constraints, synthetic peptides can assembly into supramolecular structures that typically exhibit emerging new properties and functionalities. This intermolecular assembly can also be observed with naturally occurring peptides. Peptides assembly can thus be exploited as a novel strategy to explore novel nanomaterials with desired biotechnological applications. Examples of assembled peptides include amyloids, amphiphile, dendrimers, multilayers, etc. These assemblies can also interact with different inorganic and organic molecules, expanding their applicability even further.
The development of novel peptide assemblies is associated with diverse challenges. These include the control of the physical and chemical variables governing a particular assembly, such as temperature, pressure, pH, agitation rate, surface effects, among many others. The final structures can be homogeneous or heterogeneous in size and conformation, which can be critical for their properties and functionality. Their supramolecular characterization requires diverse experimental techniques that must cope with both the size and the required resolution. The emerging properties of the assembled peptide constitute the final goal for a potential application. These properties can include specific nanomechanical characteristics, serve as a scaffold for the desired application, interactions with specific targets both in vitro or in vivo, and the formation of reactive surfaces that can include for instance catalytic properties. The main goal of this research topic is thus to provide recent advances on any of these challenges.
• Novel strategies for design and synthesis of peptides assemblies
• Experimental approaches for supramolecular characterization
• Emerging mechanical properties with nanotechnological value, including peptide scaffolds
• Emerging interacting properties with a nanotechnological value
• Emerging reactive and catalytic properties with a nanotechnological value
• Naturally occurring peptide assemblies
Peptides are ubiquitously found in nature fulfilling diverse and important roles. They can act as cellular modulators, hormones, antimicrobial agents, among many other functions. They can also serve as in vitro models for studying protein structure and function. Current advances in chemical synthesis and in silico approaches have allowed the rational design of peptides for specific applications, including nanotechnology. Under specific design constraints, synthetic peptides can assembly into supramolecular structures that typically exhibit emerging new properties and functionalities. This intermolecular assembly can also be observed with naturally occurring peptides. Peptides assembly can thus be exploited as a novel strategy to explore novel nanomaterials with desired biotechnological applications. Examples of assembled peptides include amyloids, amphiphile, dendrimers, multilayers, etc. These assemblies can also interact with different inorganic and organic molecules, expanding their applicability even further.
The development of novel peptide assemblies is associated with diverse challenges. These include the control of the physical and chemical variables governing a particular assembly, such as temperature, pressure, pH, agitation rate, surface effects, among many others. The final structures can be homogeneous or heterogeneous in size and conformation, which can be critical for their properties and functionality. Their supramolecular characterization requires diverse experimental techniques that must cope with both the size and the required resolution. The emerging properties of the assembled peptide constitute the final goal for a potential application. These properties can include specific nanomechanical characteristics, serve as a scaffold for the desired application, interactions with specific targets both in vitro or in vivo, and the formation of reactive surfaces that can include for instance catalytic properties. The main goal of this research topic is thus to provide recent advances on any of these challenges.
• Novel strategies for design and synthesis of peptides assemblies
• Experimental approaches for supramolecular characterization
• Emerging mechanical properties with nanotechnological value, including peptide scaffolds
• Emerging interacting properties with a nanotechnological value
• Emerging reactive and catalytic properties with a nanotechnological value
• Naturally occurring peptide assemblies