Upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) allows cancer cells to evade antitumor immunity. Despite tremendous efforts in developing PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), clinical trials using such ICIs have shown inconsistent benefits. Here, we hypothesized that the ICI efficacy would be dictated by binding strength inhibitor target proteins. To assess this, hyperbranched, multivalent poly(amidoamine) dendrimers were employed prepare dendrimer–ICI conjugates (G7-aPD-L1)....

β-Hairpin peptides present great potential as antagonists against β-sheet-rich protein surfaces, of which wide and flat geometries are typically "undruggable" with small molecules. Herein, we introduce a peptide–dendrimer conjugate (PDC) approach that stabilizes the β-hairpin structure peptide via intermolecular forces excluded volume effect well exploits multivalent binding effect. Because synergistic advantages, PDCs based on isolated from an engineered programmed death-1 (PD-1) showed...

Here we ask the fundamental questions about effect of peptide topology on self-assembly. The study revealed that self-assembling behaviors cyclic and linear peptides are significantly different in several respects, addition to sharing similarities. Their clear differences included morphological dissimilarities self-assembled nanostructures their thermal stability. similarities include analogous critical aggregation concentration values cytotoxicity profiles, which fact closely related. We...

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells have clinical advantages in adoptive cell therapy owing to their inherent anticancer efficacy and ability identify eliminate malignant tumors. However, insufficient cancer-targeting ligands on NK surfaces often inhibit immunotherapeutic performance, especially immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To facilitate recognition subsequent function of cells, we developed hyaluronic acid (HA, target CD44 overexpressed onto cancer cells)-poly(ethylene glycol)...

We present here the development of adaptable hybrid materials in which self-assembling peptides can sense diameter/curvature carbon nanotubes and then adjust their overall structures from disordered states to α-helices, vice versa. The within show exceptionally high thermal-induced conformational stability molecular recognition capability for target RNA. This study shows that context-dependent protein-folding effects be realized artificial nanosystems provides a proof principle nanohybrid...

Self-assembled peptide nanostructures with actively folded secondary structures have potential to mimic the function of proteins. We here show that α-helix-stabilized self-assembled (αSSPNs), whose sizes are comparable those proteins, be developed as protein–protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors along several unprecedented properties. Using p53-MDM2 PPI a model system, molecular recognition and modulation PPIs by αSSPN grafted p53 α-helix (p53 αSSPN) were investigated. The competition assay...

Stimuli-responsive hybrid materials that combine the dynamic nature self-assembled organic nanostructures, unique photophysical properties of inorganic materials, and molecular recognition capability biopolymers can provide sophisticated nanoarchitectures with unprecedented functions. In this report, infrared (IR)-responsive peptide-carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrids enable spatiotemporal control bioactive ligand multivalency subsequent human neural stem cell (hNSC) differentiation are reported....

Tomato is a widely distributed, cultivated, and commercialized vegetable crop. It contains antioxidant constituents including lycopene, tocopherols, vitamin C, γ-aminobutyric acid, phenols, flavonoids. This study determined the contents of components activities pulp with skin ten regular, six medium-sized, two small cherry tomato cultivars at red ripe (BR + 10) stage cultivated in Korea. The relationships among Hunter color coordinates, content each component, were measured by Pearson's...

This study presents the development of a β-hairpin (tryptophan zipper, Trpzip)-based molecular tweezer (MT) that can control folding and binding α-helical peptides. When an α-helix isolated from p53 protein was conjugated with Trpzip in optimized macrocyclic structure, folded stabilized helix conformation through side chain-to-side chain stapling strategy, which notably enhanced target (hDM2) affinity peptide. On other hand, helicity were significantly reduced when hairpin unfolded by redox...

In this study, we developed macrocyclic peptide building blocks that formed self-assembled vesicles with molecular recognition capabilities. Macrocyclic peptides were significantly different from conventional amphiphiles, in they could self-assemble into at very high hydrophilic-to-total mass ratios. The flexibility of the hydrophobic self-assembly segment was critical for vesicle formation. unique features system include a homogeneous size distribution, unusually small size, and robust...

The first step in the conventional approach to self-assembled biomaterials is develop well-defined nanostructures vitro, which followed by disruption of preformed at inside cell achieve bioactivity. Here, we propose an inverse strategy in-cell gain-of-function nanostructures. In this approach, supramolecular building blocks exist a unimolecular/unordered state vitro or outside and assemble into after internalization. We used block copolypeptides oligoarginine self-assembling peptide as...

Ischemic vascular diseases remain leading causes of disability and death. Although various clinical therapies have been tried, reperfusion injury is a major issue, occurring when blood recirculates at the damaged lesion. As an alternative approach, cell-based therapy has emerged. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are attractive cellular candidates due to their therapeutic capacities, including differentiation, safety, angiogenesis, tissue repair. However, low levels receptors/ligands limit...

The use of nanocarriers decorated with penetration-enhancing agents (PEAs) is considered to be a promising approach for efficient transdermal delivery. In this study, we developed short amphiphilic skin-penetrating peptides (17 amino acids) that functioned not only as PEAs but also building blocks without the incorporation additional macromolecules self-assembly and guest molecule encapsulation. Interestingly, varying two acids in hydrophobic moiety resulted significantly different behavior,...

This study describes a strategy to control the degree of α-helix stabilization and shape α-helix-decorated nanostructures. Coassembly macrocyclic peptide β-sheet diminished steric clashes between helical segments, further stabilizing α-helices.

Abstract Topical treatment offers a viable alternative for melanoma patients incompatible with surgical interventions. Herein, the study develops skin‐penetrating peptide (SPP)‐based drone (PD) transdermal delivery of antitumor proteins. To achieve cost‐effective therapeutics, Concanavalin A (ConA), which can be prepared through an extraction method, is loaded onto PDs. Compared free proteins, ConA‐PD complexes (CPCs) demonstrate significantly greater skin permeation. Moreover, CPCs exhibit...

Abstract Understanding the self‐assembly behavior of β‐sheet peptides is important, not only in constructing bioactive peptide nanostructures, but also inhibiting uncontrollable protein aggregation protein‐misfolding diseases. Here, first systematic investigation combination between block copolypeptides and CNTs presented, demonstrating presence several different association modes during process. Bioactive can self‐assemble by themselves, or be used to functionalize CNT hybrids depending on...

We explore here the possibility that polypeptide chains with directional multiplicity might provide for control of peptide self-assembly processes. tested this new using an oppositely directed (ODP) supramolecular system. The ODP could make it possible to form a βαβ motif antiparallel β-sheets, which does not exist in nature. Furthermore, designed ODPs were able self-assemble into discrete, homogeneous, and structured protein-like controlled nano-objects. represent simple but powerful...

Silver sulfide (Ag2S) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted attention as promising infrared materials owing to their broad bandgap tunability and nontoxic composition. However, synthesizing highly monodisperse Ag2S CQDs has been challenging, because they readily fuse with each other. Here, we introduce a dual-ligand passivation approach for the synthesis of CQDs. Leveraging both oleic acid oleylamine coligands surface passivation, achieve enhanced confinement CQD morphology...

The target affinity and selectivity of many biomacromolecules depend on the three-dimensional (3D) distribution multiple ligands their surfaces. Here, we devised a self-assembly strategy to control target-tailored 3D α-helical coiled-coil core scaffold using novel lariat-type supramolecular building blocks. Depending composition ligand grafting sites in lariat blocks, structural functional features self-assembled peptide nanostructures (SPNs) could be variably fine-tuned. Using oligovalent...