Self-Assembled Bio-Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Supramolecular self-assembly is a simple but effective bottom-up technique for creating functional nanomaterials with novel structures and properties. Biomolecules, such as DNA, proteins, peptides, virus, enzymes, biopolymers, and others, have unique abilities to form hierarchical and ordered 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures and nanomaterials by molecular self-assembly in liquid, solid surface, and air–water interfaces. The self-assembled bio-nanomaterials have shown wide applications in the fields of biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, biosensors, nanotechnology, energy materials, and others. For example, the self-assembled peptide and protein bio-nanomaterials have been used to deliver drugs into the body system with specific targeting, and the biomineralized self-assembled nanomaterials have shown excellent potentials to repair old tissues and substitute natural structures and functions. By combining self-assembled bio-nanomaterials with other functional nanomaterials like nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and grapheme together, it is possible to create hybrid bio-nanomaterials with multi functions. Compared to inorganic nanomaterials, the formed hybrid bio-nanomaterials have high biocompatibility, self-assembly ability, physicochemical stability, and molecular recognition ability, therefore providing various potential applications in cell labelling, bioimaging, biosensors, and functional materials.

Great achievements have been made in this interesting field, it is still necessary and significant to investigate: (i) the synthesis of novel bio-nanomaterials by molecular self-assembly of various biomacromolecules and small molecules, (ii) the multi-characterizations of created biomaterials, and (iii) the potential applications of both pure self-assembled and hybrid bio-nanomaterials in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell culture, bioimaging, sensors, functional materials, and others. Therefore, in this Special Issue of the journal Nanomaterials, we would like to gather contributions from you on these topics (not limited to them). Both original research and review papers are welcome.

We are looking forward to your great contributions to this Special Issue. Thanks and best regards,

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