Intracellular Enzyme-Instructed Self-Assembly of Peptides (IEISAP) for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Despite the remarkable significance and encouraging breakthroughs of intracellular enzyme-instructed self-assembly of peptides (IEISAP) in disease diagnosis and treatment, a comprehensive review that focuses on this topic is still desirable. In this article, we carefully review the advances in the applications of IEISAP, including the development of various bioimaging techniques, such as fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, positron-emission tomography imaging, radiation imaging, and multimodal imaging, which are successfully leveraged in visualizing cancer tissues and cells, bacteria, and enzyme activity. We also summarize the utilization of IEISAP in disease treatments, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiinflammation applications, among others. We present the design, action modes, structures, properties, functions, and performance of IEISAP materials, such as nanofibers, nanoparticles, nanoaggregates, and hydrogels. Finally, we conclude with an outlook towards future developments of IEISAP materials for biomedical applications. It is believed that this review may foster the future development of IEISAP with better performance in the biomedical field.

Divalent metal ion modulation of a simple peptide-based hydrogel: self-assembly and viscoelastic properties

“…There are many reports showing peptide assembly forming nanofibers, nanotubes, nanobundles, and so on. [50][51][52] For the hydrogel of C 14 -FH(Trt)-OH, TEM imaging was done to first investigate formation of a self-assembled network (Fig. S6, ESI †).…”

Covalently triggered self-assembly of peptide-based nanodrugs for cancer theranostics

“…Especially, intracellularly instructed self-assembly of peptides have been considered as one of the most versatile strategies of developing novel biomaterials for disease treatment. 39 In general, peptide precursor includes three main modules: assembly module (photosensitizer or hydrophobic part), enzyme-responsive peptide sequence, and targeting peptide. They exist in the molecule form in blood circulation and can enter into tumor due to its small size.…”

Multidisciplinary approaches for enzyme biocatalysis in pharmaceuticals: protein engineering, computational biology, and nanoarchitectonics

“…Firstly, enzymes have played a crucial role in the assembly of complex peptide and oligonucleotide therapeutics, elevating the precision of drug design. [16][17][18][19] By selectively and efficiently catalyzing specific chemical reactions, enzymes enable pharmaceutical scientists to fine-tune the molecular structures of drugs, optimizing their efficacy and safety profiles. This newfound precision in drug synthesis carries profound implications, extending beyond the creation of novel therapeutic agents to encompass the optimization of existing medications.…”