Molecular Design of beta-Hairpin Peptides for Material Construction.

Self-assembled materials composed of beta-sheet forming peptides hold promise as therapeutics and novel biomaterials. This article focuses on the design and engineering of amphiphilic peptide sequences, especially beta-hairpins. Peptides can be designed to intramolecularly fold and then self-assemble on cue, affording hydrogels rich in beta-sheet structure. Hydrogels having distinct material properties can be designed at the molecular level by modulating either the peptide's sequence or the environmental stimulus used to trigger folding and assembly, leading to gelation.