title: Peptide-Based Molecular Hydrogels as Supramolecular Protein Mimics.
abstract: This Minireview concerns recent advances in the design, synthesis, and application of low molecular-weight peptidic hydrogelators. The sequence-specific combinations of amino acid side chain functionalities combined with hydrogen bonding of amide backbones and hydrophobic (aromatic) capping groups give these peptidic molecules the intrinsic tendency to self-assemble. The most prevalent designs include N-capped amino acid residues, bolamphiphilic peptides, and amphipathic peptides. Factors such as hydrophobic effects, the Hofmeister effect, and tunable ionization influence their aggregation properties. The self-assembly of simple bio-inspired building blocks into higher organized structures allows comparisons to be drawn with proteins and their complex functionalities, providing preliminary insights into complex biological functions and also enabling their application in a wide range of fields including catalysis, biomedical applications, and mimicry of natural dissipative systems. The Minireview is concluded by a short summary and outlook, highlighting the advances and steps required to bridge the gaps in the understanding of such systems.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat, s/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Advanced Science Research Centre (ASRC), City University of New York, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat, s/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miravet
authors.affiliation: Advanced Science Research Centre (ASRC), City University of New York, 85 St Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.|WestCHEM/Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UK.|Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City University of New York-Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., New York, NY, 10065, USA.|PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Rein V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Ulijn
authors.affiliation: Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat, s/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Escuder
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D010455:Peptides
keywords: biomaterials; gels; peptides; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry