Peptide-based material

These are exciting times for peptide based materials. The number of investigators in this field and consequently the number of publications in this area have increased tremendously in recent years. Not since the middle of the past century has there been so much activity focused on the physical properties of peptidic materials. Then, efforts were focused on determination of the fundamental elements that make up protein structures, leading to the discoveries of the a—helix and the (3-sheet. Many years of study followed where the propensities of individual and combinations of amino acids to adopt and stabilize these structures were investigated. Now, this knowledge is being applied to the preparation, assembly, and use of peptide based materials with designed sequences. This volume summarizes recent developments in all these areas. 

Zanuy, D., Nusinov, R., Aleman, C. From peptide-based material science to protein fibrils discipline convergence in nanobiology, Phys. Biology 3. (2006) S80-S90. 

Lowik DWPM, Leunissen EHP, van den Heuvel M, Hansen MB, van Hest JCM (2010) Stimulus responsive peptide based materials. Chem Soc Rev 39 3394-3412... 

The wealth of natural examples provides immense inspiration for the molecular design of novel peptide-based materials that can be potentially applied as devices, sensors, and biomaterials for medical applications. In addition to hierarchical self-assembly, nature uses other mechanisms, for example, enzyme-mediated covalent cross-linking, to build up structural proteins and higher-ordered structures. In the following sections we will focus on manmade peptide-based materials that belong to the three classes listed below. They will be split with respect to the underlying design concept into materials formed by ... 

Peptide-Based Materials Inspired by Naturally Occurring Structural Proteins... 

The fourth approach is based on the exciting field of nanotechnology. This approach attempts to integrate nanoscale design into the development of biomaterials. Studies with peptide-based materials and hydrogels have been performed with encouraging results. A more detailed examination of these studies is provided in the following discussion. 

Natural peptide-based material Stimulus Response Function... 

Preparation strategies for peptide surfaces have to meet several general criteria. First, the immobilisation of the peptide-based material to the surface has to be stable under the conditions used for the intended application. Second, the responsive material has to retain its function when immobilised, and the immobilisation procedure must be nondestructive to the peptides. It should be noted that the responsiveness of the peptide material may also be directly related to the surface attachment, for example, if the response is provided by a change in orientation of the peptide in relation to the substrate surface (Yeung et al 2010), or by electrically interfacing with the surface (Yasutomi, Morita, Imanishi, Kimura, 2004). In these instances, the peptide surface constitutes a whole new functional material that would not exist if the peptide were merely used in solution. Finally, it is desirable and sometimes necessary to control the orientation and surface density of the immobilised peptide to obtain functional and reproducible responsive materials (Yeung et al., 2010). 

Ramachandran, S., Taraban, M.B., Trewhella, J., et al. Effect of temperature during assembly on the structure and mechanical properties of peptide-based materials. Biomacromolecules 11, 1502-1506 (2010). doi 10.1021/bml00138m... 

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