Novel supramolecular designs of cyclic peptides that contain gamma- or delta-amino acids

Abstract

Cyclic peptides have the ability to provide supramolecular tubular structures through supramolecular stacking of the peptidic subunits. This self-assembly capability makes them an attractive platform for the construction of complex structures with programmable dimensions. The peptide nature of the resulting systems converts them into suitable candidates for the development of novel nanobiomaterials. In this PhD Thesis, a novel class of cyclic peptides that incorporates cyclic non-natural amino acids are introduced. Their supramolecular properties as well as their ability to encapsulate different hydrophobic substances were explored. Finally, the introduction of a molecular cap was proposed with the aim of obtaining peptide-based molecular containers with improved encapsulation properties.