title: Bottom-up design of biomimetic assemblies.
abstract: Nature has evolved the ability to assemble a variety of molecules into functional architectures that can specifically bind cellular ligands. Mimicking this strategy requires the design of a set of multifaceted molecules, where elements that direct assembly were conjugated to biologically specific components. The development of functional molecular building-blocks that assemble to form compartments for therapeutics addresses the desire to have controllable morphologies that interact with biological interfaces at nanometer length scales. The practical application of such 'bottom-up' assemblies requires the ability to predict the type of aggregated structure and to synthesize molecules in a highly controlled fashion. This bottom-up approach results in a molecular platform that mimics biological systems with potential for encapsulating and delivering drug molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Office of the Dean of Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5130, USA.
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tirrell
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015195:Drug Design; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers