Self Assembling Peptide Systems In Biology Medicine And Engineering

One ofthe major drivers in biological research is the establishment ofstructures and functions of the 50,000 or so proteins in our bodies. Each has a characteristic- dimensional structure, highly "ordered" yet "disordered"! This structure is essential for a protein's function and, significantly, it must be sustained in the competitive and complex environment of the living cell. It is now being recognised that when a cell loses control, proteins can se- assemble into more complex supermolecular structures such as the amyloid fibres and plaques associated with the pathogenesis of prion (CJD) or age-related (Alzheimer's) diseases. This is a pointer to the wider significance of the self-assembling properties of polypeptides. It has been long known that, in silk, polypeptides are assembled into- sheet structures which impart on the material its highly exploitable properties of flexibility combined with high tensile strength. But only now emerging is the recognition that peptides can Self-assemble into a wide variety of non-protein-like structures, including fibrils, fibres, tubules, sheets and monolayers. These are exciting observations and, more so, the potential for materials and medical exploitations is so wide ranging that over 80 scientists from Europe, USA, Japan and Israel. met 1-6 July 1999 in Crete, to discuss the wide-ranging implications of these novel developments. There was a spirit of excitement about the workshop indicative of an important new endeavor. The emerging perception is that of a new class of materials set to become commercially viable early in the 21st century.

The book contains six sections. The first section covers general articles; then there is a section concentrating on novel systems and applications. This is followed by one that deals with a range of applications of polymers, surfactants and liquid crystals. This is followed by a section on advances in fundamental understanding. Then there is one on biological systems, and finally there is a section on micelle and vesicle systems, with particular emphasis on dynamic aspects. The contributors, including Physicists, Chemists, Biologists and Chemical Engineers, variously chose to write review-type articles, summaries of their own recent work in the field and its relevance in the general concept of self-assembly, specific short papers related to their particular presentation, or their own thoughts concerning the future development of their particular interest area. All these aspects are addressed in the book. The book covers research at the forefront of the subject, and it is expected to be a very useful addition to the literature in this important field.

Peptide Self-Assembly and Engineering State-of-the-art research in peptide self-assembly, with coverage of fundamental aspects of how peptides self-assemble and an extensive number of applications Peptide Self-Assembly and Engineering: Fundamentals, Structures, and Applications (2V set) covers the latest progresses in the field of peptide self-assembly and engineering, including the fundamental principles of peptide self-assembly, new theory of nucleation and growth, thermodynamics and kinetics, materials design rules, and precisely controlled structures and unique functions. The broad contents from this book enable readers to obtain a systematical and comprehensive knowledge in the field of peptide self-assembly and engineering. Contributed by the leading scientists and edited by a highly qualified academic and an authority in the field, Peptide Self-Assembly and Engineering includes information on: Emerging areas in peptide assembly, such as immune agents, bioelectronics, energy conversion, flexible sensors, biomimetic catalysis, and more Existing applications in biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and photoelectronics, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensing devices History of peptide self-assembly for design of functional materials and peptides’ unique mechanical, optical, electronic, and biological properties Various solvent conditions, such as pH, ionic strength, and polarity, that can affect the structure and stability of peptide assemblies A very comprehensive reference covering the latest progresses in the field of peptide self-assembly and engineering, Peptide Self-Assembly and Engineering is an essential resource for all scientists performing research intersecting with the subject, including biochemists, biotechnologists, pharmaceutical chemists, protein chemists, materials scientists, and medicinal chemists.

These contribution books collect reviews and original articles from eminent experts working in the interdisciplinary arena of biomaterial development and use. From their direct and recent experience, the readers can achieve a wide vision on the new and ongoing potentials of different synthetic and engineered biomaterials. Contributions were not selected based on a direct market or clinical interest, than on results coming from very fundamental studies which have been mainly gathered for this book. This fact will also allow to gain a more general view of what and how the various biomaterials can do and work for, along with the methodologies necessary to design, develop and characterize them, without the restrictions necessarily imposed by industrial or profit concerns. The book collects 22 chapters related to recent researches on new materials, particularly dealing with their potential and different applications in biomedicine and clinics: from tissue engineering to polymeric scaffolds, from bone mimetic products to prostheses, up to strategies to manage their interaction with living cells.

The cross-fertilization of physico-chemical and mathematical ideas has a long historical tradition. This volume of Advances in Chemical Engineering is almost completely dedicated to a conference on “Mathematics in Chemical Kinetics and Engineering (MaCKiE-2007), which was held in Houston in February 2007, bringing together about 40 mathematicians, chemists, and chemical engineers from 10 countries to discuss the application and development of mathematical tools in their respective fields. * Updates and informs the reader on the latest research findings using original reviews * Written by leading industry experts and scholars * Reviews and analyzes developments in the field

Solid-binding peptides have been used increasingly as molecular building blocks in nanobiotechnology as they can direct the assembly and functionalisation of a diverse range of materials and have the ability to regulate the synthesis of nanoparticles and complex nanostructures. Nanostructured materials such as β-sheet fibril-forming peptides and α-helical coiled coil systems have displayed many useful properties including stimulus-responsiveness, modularity and multi-functionality, providing potential technological applications in tissue engineering, antimicrobials, drug delivery and nanoscale electronics. The current situation with respect to self-assembling peptides and bioactive matrices for regenerative medicine are reviewed, as well as peptide-target modeling and an examination of future prospects for peptides in these areas.

This volume details methods and protocols on b-sheet assemblies and collagen. Divided into three parts chapters focus on expanding use of solid-state NMR as a powerful method to enhance structural understanding of self-assembled peptide materials, methods for the design, synthesis, and application of self-assembled peptide materials, and structural and mechanistic analyses of pathological amyloid systems that provide novel ways to assess function of the various possible aggregates as well to determine how the structure of these materials correlates to function/dysfunction in the biological context. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Peptide Self-Assembly: Methods and Protocols aims to capture modern methods that span the breadth of the exciting and expanding field of peptide self-assembly.