Microfabrication of peptide self-assemblies: inspired by nature towards applications

Peptide self-assemblies show intriguing and tunable physicochemical properties, and thus have been attracting increasing interest over the last two decades. However, the micro/nano-scale dimensions of the self-assemblies severely restrict their extensive applications. Inspired by nature, to genuinely realize the practical utilization of the bio-organic super-architectures, it is beneficial to further organize the peptide self-assemblies to integrate the properties of the individual supermolecules and fabricate higher-level organizations for smart functional devices. Therefore, cumulative studies have been reported on peptide microfabrication giving rise to diverse properties. This review summarizes the recent development of the microfabrication of peptide self-assemblies, discussing each methodology along with the diverse properties and practical applications of the engineered peptide large-scale, highly-ordered organizations. Finally, the current limitations of the state-of-the-art microfabrication strategies are critically assessed and alternative solutions are suggested.

Automated summary

Peptide self-assemblies have attracted increasing interest due to their intriguing and tunable physicochemical properties, but their applications are limited by their micro/nano-scale dimensions. To overcome this limitation and realize the practical utilization of bio-organic super-architectures, researchers have focused on peptide microfabrication to integrate the properties of individual supermolecules and create higher-level organizations for functional devices. This review summarizes the recent advancements in peptide microfabrication, discussing various methodologies, properties, and applications of engineered peptide large-scale, highly-ordered organizations. The current limitations of microfabrication strategies are also critically evaluated, and alternative solutions are proposed.