Novel Functions in Peptide Supramolecular Materials

Over the past two decades our laboratory has investigated the supramolecular polymerization of molecularly modified peptides in water known as peptide amphiphiles. In media of high ionic strength, these systems form highly hydrated networks of nanoscale filaments with diverse architectures and peptide sequence dependent degrees of internal order. A very exciting platform of bioactive materials has emerged from these systems with unprecedented ability to signal cells and drive regeneration of tissues. The lecture will report on a recent breakthrough in this area identifying supramolecular motion in peptide materials as an important feature in their ability to signal cells. Another topic to be discussed is recent work on the integration of peptide supramolecular polymers with covalent polymers, which generates a wide variety of stimuli-responsive materials. These novel materials respond to light as well as magnetic and electric fields, and exhibit the ability to emulate behaviors expected from living creatures. These materials can mechanically actuate, exhibit locomotion on surfaces, swim in water, and exhibit phototactic movements. In these emerging robotic materials, the presence of supramolecular assemblies of peptides plays a key role. This lecture will also discuss a new emerging frontier in the area of peptide materials, namely the design of systems capable of self organizing into electro-active structures such as ferroelectric phases and of generating ionically conducting structures for devices.