Peptide Modification for Materials Development
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Peptide modification refers to the modification of peptides by chemical or biotechnological means to improve their performance or give them new functions. In recent years, the application of peptide modification in the field of materials science and biomedicine has received extensive attention. Its unique biocompatibility and functional diversity make it show great potential in drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, etc. In this article, we will introduce some of the main applications of peptide modifications in materials development, and give specific examples to demonstrate their practical effects.
Modified hydrogels for wound healing
Hydrogels have unique advantages in the field of drug delivery due to their high water content and soft properties. However, unmodified hydrogels may have shortcomings in terms of stability and biocompatibility. Through peptide modification, its physicochemical properties can be significantly improved. In recent years, researchers have developed a variety of hydrogel excipients, but an absolute part of them is only aimed at clearing ROS or improving inflammation after radiation, which increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces apoptosis and senescence, thereby hindering wound healing. Wang's research team prepared a superstructured hydrogel (CHRgel) based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and cordycepin (Cor) self-assembled peptide (R-peptide) for the healing of surgical incisions after neoadjuvant radiotherapy. First, the authors explored the microstructure of biomimetic fiber bundles formed by the co-assembly of self-assembled peptides and hyaluronic acid and found that R peptides drive single-fiber assembly through π-π stacking, while HA promotes the formation of fiber bundles through electrostatic interaction. Furthermore, cordycepin was co-assembled to verify the responsive release of cordycepin in a slightly acidic environment. In further in vitro experiments, the authors verified that the glycopeptide hydrogel mimics the extracellular matrix structure and contributes to the adhesion and proliferation of cells in surgical wounds, and also verified that the hydrogel can scavenge radiation-induced intracellular ROS.
Fig.1 Structure of glycopeptide hydrogel and mechanism of action in wound repair. (Wang Hang, et al., 2024)
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Peptide modification in tissue engineering
In the field of tissue engineering, peptide modification is widely used for a variety of functions, such as enhancing cell adhesion, promoting cell differentiation, and promoting tissue regeneration. As an important part of biofunctional molecules, peptides can precisely regulate cell behavior by designing specific sequences, so they show a wide range of applications in tissue engineering. A typical application is the application of peptide modifications to scaffold materials for bone tissue regeneration. The process of bone formation is complex and involves the synergistic action of multiple cellular and signaling molecules. By introducing specific bone-forming peptides (e.g., RGD peptides) on the surface of the scaffold material, the adhesion and differentiation ability of osteoblasts can be significantly improved. RGD peptides contain arginine-glycine-aspartic acid sequences that bind to integrin receptors on the cell surface and enhance cell-scaffold interactions, thereby promoting cell proliferation and differentiation. For example, in 2022, Zhang's team successfully applied RGD peptide modification to the surface of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold materials in their research. The results showed that the RGD peptide-modified PCL scaffold significantly promoted the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, and improved the mineralization ability of cells, which is of great significance for bone tissue regeneration. This study not only demonstrated the effectiveness and biocompatibility of peptide modifications in scaffold materials, but also demonstrated its potential in promoting bone formation.
Peptide modification in biosensors
Peptide modifications also play an important role in the development of biosensors. By modifying specific peptides, the sensor can achieve high sensitivity and selectivity for specific biomolecules. A typical application example is the use of peptide modifications in the development of glucose sensors. In diabetes monitoring and management, accurate measurement of blood glucose levels is crucial. Studies have shown that the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor for glucose detection can be significantly improved by modifying peptides with specific functions. A research team has designed a peptide that modifies glucose oxidase (GOx), which significantly improves the performance of electrochemical biosensors. The peptide modification not only enhances the fixation effect of GOx on the surface of the sensor, but also improves its catalytic efficiency for glucose, resulting in a significant increase in the detection sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor.
This improvement is of great significance for improving the accuracy of blood glucose monitoring in diabetic patients and provides new ideas and methods for the development of other types of biosensors.
Peptide modification in antimicrobial materials
The development of antimicrobial materials is of great significance for the medical and food industries, as peptides themselves have excellent biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity, and the antimicrobial properties of the materials can be significantly enhanced by modifying the peptides to the surface of the materials. For example, peptide-modified antimicrobial coatings are widely used in medical devices. Modifying antimicrobial peptides (e.g., LL-37) on the surface of medical devices can effectively prevent bacterial infections. LL-37 is an antimicrobial peptide derived from humans, with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which can damage bacterial cell membranes and inhibit bacterial growth and reproduction. By modifying LL-37 onto the surface of a medical device, a long-lasting antimicrobial protective layer can be formed, reducing the risk of bacterial infection. This peptide-modified antimicrobial coating is not only widely used in medical devices, but can also be used in food processing equipment and packaging materials to provide additional safety assurance. By optimizing the selection and modification technology of peptides, the performance of antimicrobial materials can be further improved to meet the needs of different application scenarios. Therefore, the application prospect of peptide modification technology in the development of antimicrobial materials is very broad, and it is worthy of further in-depth research and promotion.
Summary
The application of peptide modification in material development has broad prospects. By optimizing the peptide sequence and modification method, the physicochemical properties of the material can be significantly improved and given new functions. Peptide modification has shown great potential in the fields of drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, antimicrobial materials, and biodegradable materials. In the future, with the further development of peptide modification technology, its application will be more extensive and deeper.
References
- Wang, Hang, et al., Glucopeptide Superstructure Hydrogel Promotes Surgical Wound Healing Following Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy by Producing NO and Anti-cellular Senescence. Advanced Healthcare Materials (2024): 2400406.
- Soni, Jay, et al., Polyethylene glycol: A promising approach for sustainable organic synthesis. Journal of Molecular Liquids 315 (2020): 113766.
- Zheng, Wenting, et al., Functionalization of PCL fibrous membrane with RGD peptide by a naturally occurring condensation reaction. Chinese science bulletin 59 (2014): 2776-2784.
- Ridyard, Kylen E., and Joerg Overhage. The potential of human peptide LL-37 as an antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent. Antibiotics 10.6 (2021): 650.
