Integrating top-down and self-assembly in the fabrication of peptide and protein-based biomedical materials

Abstract

The capacity to create an increasing variety of bioactive molecules that are designed to assemble in specific configurations has opened up tremendous possibilities in the design of materials with an unprecedented level of control and functionality. A particular challenge involves guiding such self-assembling interactions across scales, thus precisely positioning individual molecules within well-organized, highly-ordered structures. Such hierarchical control is essential if peptides and proteins are to serve as both structural and functional building blocks of biomedical materials. To achieve this goal, top-down techniques are increasingly being used in combination with self-assembling systems to reproducibly manipulate, localize, orient and assemble peptides and proteins to form organized structures. In this tutorial review we provide insight into how both standard and novel top-down techniques are being used in combination with peptide or protein self-assembly to create a new generation of functional materials.

Nanostructured functional films from engineered repeat proteins

“…In spite of our increased understanding of interactions that govern assemblies in nature, in the laboratory, there is still a challenge to make controlled assemblies that span scales over several orders of magnitude. Self-assembling materials based on peptides, proteins and nucleic acids have recently been explored [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. In this work, we focus on protein materials because proteins provide a large repertoire of interactions and chemical reactivities that can in turn provide function to the materials [15].…”

Controlled fabrication of hierarchically microstructured surfaces via surface wrinkling combined with template replication

“…The intimate relation between them attracts considerable interest to fabricate hierarchical micro-and nanostructured materials. To date, the most commonly used techniques for micro/nanostructuring can be roughly classified into two categories: top-down and bottom-up methods [5,6]. Top-down methods are based on creating an organized structure either by etching or by manipulating components into specific locations, such as photolithography and replica molding [7,8].…”

Patterning nanofibrils through the templated growth of multiple modified amyloid peptides

“…Another important strategy for the patterning of nanowires involves the attachment of nanowires at specific positions on the surface of a substrate. This process is necessary for creating nanowire-based functional systems89. The development of a process capable of defining the initiation position of each nanowire of the surface of a substrate is highly desired because of the potential application of these materials to the interconnection of nanoelectrodes produced by nanolithography.…”