Directed Discovery of Peptide Materials for Extreme Environments
Abstract
The materials of the living world are composed of sequence-specific biopolymers that achieve a bewildering array of functions, resulting from their covalent and non-covalent organization in aqueous media. However, peptide and protein-based materials often exhibit poor mechanical properties and functionality, especially when uses are anticipated in the dry state. We propose that peptide-based materials can be produced that are rationally optimized for non-aqueous, dry and other extreme conditions by reconsidering the peptide design paradigm. We will develop design concepts that de-emphasize the role of water solvation and the hydrophobic effect, while placing more emphasis on non-covalent interactions (H-bonding, electrostatic, aromatic stacking interactions). We will follow two parallel, and complementary design and discovery approaches developed in our lab. They are (i) systematic sequence editing of short peptides to direct selfassembly through balancing backbone and sidechain interactions, and (ii) sequence selection using a dynamic peptide bond exchange and thermodynamic selection using our dynamic peptide library (DPL) concept. We will establish optimization rules to create peptide nanostructures with controlled order and disorder in non-aqueous conditions. The proposed new peptide materials are modular, covalently reconfigurable materials that are stable under extreme conditions, but readily dis-assemble to recover these modules in aqueous media, and thus they are recyclable. The research proposed here lays the foundation for making groundbreaking advances in several areas of primary relevance for the AFOSR and society in general, including materials that are exceptionally stable, and still biodegradable, as well as recyclable materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310456
Entities
People
- Rein V Ulijn
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Research Foundation of The City University of New York
- United States Air Force