Molecular self-assembly of amino acid pairing peptides and their derivatives

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Molecular self-assembly has been the hallmark of nanotechnology research, with applications in various engineering and biomedical processes. We have developed a new class of self-assembling biomolecules: amino acid pairing (AAP) peptides. Just like the base pairing in a DNA double helix, amino acid pairing allows self-assembly of peptide molecules, leading to desired functional nanostructures. The AAP peptides not only possess specific molecular functions (e.g., stimuli-responsiveness, micro-environment recognition, and cell membrane targeting) but also derive surfactant-like or amphiphilic characteristics from their unique amino acid sequences for molecular self/co-assembly. These peptides and their assembled nanostructures, or nano-vehicles, are able to interact with other molecules, e.g., hydrophobic compounds as in anticancer drugs, hydrophilic molecules as in DNAs and siRNAs (short interfering RNAs), and different engineering surfaces. They have been found to be useful in drug and gene delivery.