Polypeptide Containing Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

Synthetic polymers can be obtained from many monomers, in miscellaneous architectures, including, not only linear, but also branched systems, through "living" polymerization techniques. However, none of these polymers exhibit the sophistication and complexity of those derived from the combination of only 20 amino acids, i.e., polypeptides, that can self-organize mainly through physical forces in length scales, from a few angstroms to a few microns, to achieve the required functionality. Polypeptides present the 3D structures found in natural proteins, such as α-helices and β-sheets, that renders these materials "smart". Synthetic polypeptides have the advantage of being composed of much simpler components than natural proteins, but do not present the complex biological activity of a protein. However, due to their 3D structure and biocompatibility, polypeptides have become the most promising materials in many bio-applications, such as drug and gene delivery. In addition, the combination of polypeptides with synthetic biocompatible conventional polymers could lead to the formation of nanoconstructs with sophisticated higher-order structures with new properties and functionalities. Consequently, polypeptide-containing polymers are very interesting materials that attract the interest of an increasing number of scientists in a variety of disciplines.

This Special Issue is intended to highlight the synthesis and applications of polypeptide containing polymers, for instance stimuli-responsive/smart materials, hierarchical structures, self-organization, biomedical applications, and others.

Prof. Hermis Iatrou
Guest Editor

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