Self-assembled chromopeptide nanostructures for photothermal therapy of tumors

Abstract

Drawing inspiration from the elegant molecular machinery and unique light-handling functions of natural chromoproteins, this review focuses on the rational design of self-assembling chromopeptides as a versatile platform to address the enduring challenges of photothermal therapy (PTT) for tumors. These programmable constructs, which integrate photosensitive motifs with self-assembling peptide sequences, enable the bottom-up fabrication of biocompatible nanomaterials with precisely tailored photothermal properties. This review systematically explores the molecular design principles and supramolecular assembly mechanisms that underpin the exceptional performance of these nanostructures. We elucidate how their hierarchical organization can be engineered to dictate excited-state de-excitation pathways, thereby maximizing photothermal conversion efficiency by the “supramolecular photothermal effect”. Furthermore, this review explores their advanced biomedical applications as multifunctional theranostic platforms, which not only facilitate image-guided tumor ablation but also pave the way for synergistic photo-immunotherapy to elicit systemic anti-tumor immunity. By connecting peptide-encoded design directly to therapeutic outcomes, this review provides a cohesive overview of chromopeptide nanoarchitectonics, offering valuable insights for the future development of next-generation PTT agents and functional supramolecular biomaterials.