Peptide Materials

Abstract

Over the past three decades, the field of peptide-based materials has been rapidly expanding and evolving, becoming a multidisciplinary area, with new developments and applications being consistently discovered. The purpose of this Peptide Materials Special Issue is to highlight research presented at the first Gordon Research Conference on Peptide Materials in January, 2023. Consequently, we invited eminent scientists with primary research interests in Peptide Materials to contribute original research articles or short reviews in this area. This thematic issue is focused on the materials aspects of peptides and their derivatives and mimics, including both fundamental research in peptide design, synthesis, assembly, micellization, gelation, and coacervation, as well as disparate technological applications, including functional materials for energy storage, catalysis, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, adhesion, protein purification, and nanotechnology. As peptides are composed of amino acids─the fundamental building blocks of proteins─they serve as a natural bridge between small-molecule supramolecular assemblies and large biomacromolecular constructs. Their ability to adopt well-defined secondary and tertiary structures, undergo hierarchical self-assembly, and exhibit tunable biochemical properties and distinct structural features highlights their importance and relevance within the broader landscape of biomacromolecular research. The peptide materials field has become a well-established, interdisciplinary area that attracts chemists, chemical engineers, material scientists, physicists, and biomedical engineers. The papers collected in this special issue demonstrate the growing recognition of peptides, polypeptides, proteins, and their derivatives and mimics as a versatile and critical class of biomacromolecules, poised to drive continued growth and innovation across diverse scientific and technological disciplines.