Controllable Protein Assembly: From Design Strategies to Functional Applications

Abstract

Proteins, as the primary executors of life activities, achieve essential biological functions through self-assembly into higher-order oligomers. Inspired by the sophisticated protein assembly systems in nature, the field of artificial protein assembly has developed diverse construction strategies, realizing a leapfrog progression from simple structural imitation to customized functional design. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in this field, focusing on three major construction strategies: supramolecular assembly, covalent assembly, and computational design. It explores how these strategies enable multiscale regulation of protein nanostructures from one to three dimensions, and further highlights their expanding applications in areas such as biocatalysis and drug delivery. Notably, the field is undergoing a profound shift from static structures toward dynamic functions. Finally, we discuss current challenges (predictability, multifunctional integration, and in vivo stability) and offer perspectives on future directions, aiming to provide a roadmap for the development of intelligent protein assembly materials.