Special Issue on protein/peptide-based supramolecular materials

Introduction:

In vivo and in vitro protein peptide assembly can organize into a variety of micro/nano-architectures. Recent advances harness liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of peptides to generate dynamic cohesive layers for tumor-selective therapeutics, cell surface engineering, intracellular macromolecule transport, and modulation of membraneless organelles. Complementing these, protein-imprinted polymers (PIPs) enable highly selective protein recognition with superior stability, reusability, and low cost, making them promising antibody alternatives in separation, sensing, and diagnostics. Moreover, functional amyloid-like aggregation of proteins has been achieved via mild selective disulfide bond cleavage, excelling in antifouling, hard tissue regeneration, and ultrasensitive biosensing. Collectively, protein/peptide-based supramolecular materials, as exemplified by peptide LLPS systems, PIPs, and amyloid-like protein assemblies, integrate structural precision, functional adaptability, and molecular recognition—laying the foundation for next-generation biomedical technologies and advanced nanomaterials with transformative societal impact. This special issue presents a few representative approaches in this field, which may inspire intensive attention and discussion on protein/peptide-based supramolecular materials.

Topics covered (but not limited):

• Peptide self-assembly and materials
• Protein-imprinted polymers
• Liquid-liquid phase separation
• Stimuli-responsive biopolymers
• Protein assembly and materials
• In vivo self-assembly of biomolecules
• Self-assembly of polypeptide at interfaces
• Biomimetic biopolymer assembly
• Peptide-templated material synthesis and functionalization
• Interdisciplinary material research based on peptide assembly

Important Deadlines:

• Submission deadline: 30 June 2026
• Publication date: 30 September 2026

Submission Instructions:

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online.

Guest Editors:

• Yongjun Zhang, Tiangong University, China
• Shi-Zhong Luo, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China
• Peng Yang, Shaanxi Normal University, China