Applications

Designing peptides for stability and target specificity is crucial for therapeutic applications. Peptides often face enzymatic degradation, impacting efficacy. By enhancing stability (e.g., via chemical modifications) and optimizing specificity through computational technologies, researchers can create degradation-resistant and highly targeted peptide therapeutics, ensuring their suitability for pharmaceutical use.

Cell-penetrating peptides are short amino acid sequences that facilitate the transport of therapeutic cargo, including small molecules, proteins, and nucleic acids, across cell membranes. They overcome cellular barriers via mechanisms like endocytosis or direct translocation. This enhances drug bioavailability and intracellular delivery, offering a promising strategy for targeted therapies and overcoming drug resistance.

Peptide vaccines are a targeted strategy, leveraging specific antigenic epitopes for potent and safe T-cell or B-cell immune responses. This approach effectively bypasses pathogen immune evasion and minimizes adverse reactions. By utilizing computational methods and chemical modifications, scientists create safe and effective peptide vaccines suitable for diverse infectious diseases and therapeutic uses.

Peptide hydrogels, versatile biomaterials, self-assemble into 3D networks holding large water volumes. Ideal for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing, they mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM), supporting cell growth. Successful development hinges on controlling peptide sequences and environmental conditions to achieve desired mechanical properties and biocompatibility.