Peptide-Based Supramolecular Chemistry

Abstract

Supramolecular chemistry of highly important biomolecules and bioinspired molecules has attracted tremendous interest due to its acknowledged importance in construction of novel functional materials and in revealing the mechanisms of formation and evolution of natural living organisms. As one kind of representative biomolecules, peptides are among the most appealing programmable building blocks for supramolecular self-assembly. In this chapter, we present recent progresses in supramolecular chemistry of self-assembling aromatic dipeptides, including self-assembly of aromatic dipeptides and co-assembly of aromatic dipeptides with various functional molecular motifs, such as porphyrins, azobenzenes, photosensitizers, polyoxometalates, quantum dots, and glutaraldehyde. Particularly, hierarchical self-assembly of peptides and structural transition of the self-assembled peptide architectures are in-depth discussed in controllable fabrication of peptide materials along with revealing the non-covalent interactions that determine the self-assembly and the structure–property relationships of the formed peptide materials. Also, the applications of peptide-based supramolecular materials as optical waveguiding materials, biomimetic energy materials, and biomaterials are highlighted, providing an increased understanding of the role of peptide-based supramolecular chemistry in construction of novel functional materials.