Themed collection Bioinspired Functional Supramolecular Systems

The need to enhance the precision and specificity of therapeutic nanocarriers has led to the development of nanoscale peptide assemblies capable of sensing and responding to disease-related analytes.

Presented in this review are recent advancements in bioinspired peptide and polyamino acid assemblies as inhibitors of quorum sensing (Agr, Com, PlcR, Rgg, and NPrR) in diverse microbial communities.

Based on the cascade dehydration concept, an amphiphilic unimolecular cation channel was synthesized by attaching multiple carboxyl groups to both sides of hybrid molecule, resulting in excellent cation transport activity and pH-modulated properties.

The loading capacity of dsRNA by cationic nanocarriers can be simply and sustainably detected by the variation of the DAPI fluorescence emission. This method will significantly benefit the commercialisation of RNA interference.

The stereochemistry of carbohydrate amphiphiles can influence their self-assembling pathway and the helicity of the generated nanofibres.

Dynamic polymer materials with improved mechanical properties can be obtained by introducing supramolecular interactions between the polymer chains as demonstrated here by introducing ureidopyrimidinone quadruple hydrogen bonding units in the side chains of polyacrylates.

Fluorophobic effect enhances supramolecular microsegregation.

Peptide hydrogels are gaining much interest as 3D cell-laden matrices for cell culture. Here, a tunable protocol based on a metal chelator is proposed to disassemble peptide hydrogels and extract living cells for downstream biological applications.

Background molecules such as DNA affect the formation and properties of recombinant spider silk protein condensates.

E₂-CA-CD, a target specific estradiol-derived carbon dot, diagnosed ER (+) MCF-7 cells via bioimaging, distinguishing them from ER (−) MDA-MB-231 and NIH3T3 cells. It delivered oridonin to MCF-7 cells, inducing apoptosis by p53 pathway upregulation.

We report a nanoparticle system based on PMLA to enhance drug delivery, improve cellular uptake, and achieve controlled intracellular drug release owing to enzyme-sensitive linker named AANL and pH-sensitive bond named cis-aconitic anhydride bond.

The RNA-binding functional peptide L2-NTD is complexed with HmA (siRNA+L2-NTD@HmA), providing efficient siRNA delivery into cells with minimal cytotoxicity and degradation.

Methacrylated chitosan hydrogels properties are modelled using a statistical approach. The obtained empirical equations allow to fine tune the properties by changing the hydrogel composition and the fabrication variables.

Pursuing collective behaviors, we present enzyme-loaded polymersome stomatocytes with stigmergy-based communication capable of signal production, reception, and response by transiently clustering with surface complementary artificial species.

Conjugating SN38 with small hydrophilic molecules via a biodegradable linker results in small molecule self-assembling prodrugs that form well-defined nanofibers with varying surface charges in water.

Biphenyl-capped phosphopeptides instruct cell aggregation into spheroids, with minimal effective concentrations below 10 μM. Key factors driving morphogenesis include the self-assembly ability and dynamic shapeshifting of the peptide assemblies.

Polyphosphate (polyP) is a physiologically significant polymer with regenerative properties, crucial for supplying the metabolic fuel (ATP) essential for various regeneration processes in humans, including wound healing.

This work shows the biocatalytic ATP regulation induced self-assembly of one-dimensional nanostructures akin to the self-assembly process of actin. Coupled ATP generation and ATP hydrolysis render the supramolecular aggregates transient.

Hybrid polymer–peptide hydrogels utilize fibrillary-assembled collagen mimetic peptides to create materials with physical and covalent crosslinks. These tunable hydrogels exhibit strain and temperature responsiveness and promote cell motility.

A simple route to bio-based cellulose nanofibers (CNF) functionalization is here proposed via noncovalent incorporation of short peptides, enhancing rheology, hydrophobicity, and water vapor barrier properties in CNF-based hydrogels and films.

Low molecular weight gelators have mechanical properties ideal for regenerative medicine. This study explores the combination of a known UPy-system with a dipeptide gelator, 2NapFF, examining each system across multiple length scales.

Design of supramolecular Ag(I)-hydrogels and their application as membrane-targeting materials to counter complicated multi-drug resistant infections.

A bioinspired approach develops bone-ECM mimetic hybrids with nonlinear mechanical properties by templating bioactive glass on nanofibers derived from amyloid-inspired peptide amphiphiles, resembling collagen-bridged hydroxyapatite.