Evolving the use of peptides as components of biomaterials

Abstract

This manuscript is part of a debate on the statement that "the use of short synthetic adhesion peptides, like RGD, is the best approach in the design of biomaterials that guide cell behavior for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering". We take the position that although there are some acknowledged disadvantages of using short peptide ligands within biomaterials, it is not necessary to discard the notion of using peptides within biomaterials entirely, but rather to reinvent and evolve their use. Peptides possess advantageous chemical definition, access to non-native chemistries, amenability to de novo design, and applicability within parallel approaches. Biomaterials development programs that require such aspects may benefit from a peptide-based strategy.

Box 1

Peptides available for incorporation in biomaterials posess functions beyond cell binding

Box 2

Addressing shortcomings of peptides in biomaterials. Problems of poor affinity could be addressed with covalent stabilization approaches such as “stapled” peptides (top). The short nature of synthetic peptides could be improved with chemoselective conjugation strategies such as native chemical ligation (middle top). Multiple functions can be combined, for example using self-assembling strategies (middle bottom), and materials with extreme multivalency can be produced, for example with dendrimers or self-assembly (bottom).