Abstract

The ability to construct complex functional materials using a small number of components represents an efficient synthetic strategy for the rapid generation of novel architectures and functions. In this respect, peptides are powerful tools for the preparation of novel nanobiomaterials because of their unique folding and self-assembly properties. Cyclic components have restricted conformational freedom adopting kinetically stable structures that can be implemented in supramolecular applications. In the last few years our research group has been mainly working with disc-shaped cyclic peptides that contain cyclic gamma-amino acids. These peptides allowed the construction of tubular structures of nanometric dimensions with tunable internal and external properties. Therefore the tubes can be designed for organic, aqueous or lipidic media allowing their implementation in a variety of applications. In addition, the peptides can be used in the preparation of other architectures, such as molecular capsules, spherical clusters and so on.