Peptide-coordination self-assembly: Supramolecular design and biomedical applications

Abstract

Metalloproteins, naturally occurring in living organisms, play crucial structural and functional roles through their unique interactions with metallic elements. Inspired by these delicate metalloproteins, a diverse array of nanostructures has been constructed based on the strategy of peptide-coordination self-assembly by virtue of metal-ligand interactions between peptide building blocks and metal ions, combined with other noncovalent interactions. The resulting peptide nanomaterials possess a variety of functions, making them a favorable option for biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of peptide-coordination self-assembly systems, with a specific focus on molecular design, metal-ligand coordination, and their biomedical applications. This review aims to shed light on the challenges associated with peptide-coordination self-assembly and provides critical insights for future design and applications.