The journey of short peptides: from molecules to materials

Abstract

Peptide-based supramolecular systems consisting of conserved sets of building blocks and chemical reactions play a crucial role in the fabrication of supramolecular soft materials. Their inherent capacity for self-assembly, biocompatibility, and molecular tunability make them attractive candidates for creating peptide-based materials. This feature article primarily focuses on the modelling strategy of short peptides based on their desired applications. We explored their applications across various areas, including therapeutics, ECM mimics, drug delivery, scaffolds for tissue engineering, chemosensing, creating life-like systems, and in organic electronic devices, to name a few. In this review, emphasis is placed on highlighting the journey of these short peptides from their molecular level to the material state.