Peptide-DNA Hybrid Nanomaterials for Biology and Regenerative Medicine

摘要

Peptides and DNA represent two of the most attractive categories of molecules for the construction of nanomaterials for biology and medicine. Peptides provide a rich palette of biological functionality and self-assembly behavior, and DNA can be used to construct complex nanostructures with programmable, dynamic properties. We sought to merge the advantages of these two molecular platforms through the use of peptide-DNA (P-DNA) hybrid materials. Here we will outline recent progress in three distinct areas, each harnessing the unique potential of DNA as a novel biomaterial. The first system used a DNA nanotube scaffold to present cell-adhesive peptides in a multivalent fashion (Figure 1A). Neural stem cells adhered to these DNA-peptide structures and differentiated selectively into neurons. Both the nanostructure and the biological signal could be independently controlled.