Search

Metal chelation, characterized by its precise interactions with diverse functional groups, assumes a pivotal role in providing structural stability and generating reactive centers within metalloproteins and metallopeptides. This, in turn, orchestrates the architecture and functionality of various biological processes in living organisms. In our biomimetic approach inspired by the intricacies of natural metallopeptides, we have purposefully designed pyridine‐bis‐tyrosine, a concise Metallopeptide Conjugate (sMPC). Demonstrating the capacity to form complexes with various bioactive metal ions, sMPC emerges as a promising tool for advancing our understanding of metal‐binding proteins and catalyzing the development of cutting‐edge biotechnological materials and technologies. Our investigations underscore the hierarchical self‐assembly of these abridged conjugates into toroidal to vesicle nanostructures, influenced by concentration, and their susceptibility to spatial manipulation through metal ion coordination with functional groups. These biocompatible metal peptide complexes and their resultant nanomaterials present specific potential as exceptional therapeutic agents to address problems associated with metal ion deficiencies, offering a facile and low‐cost alternative to traditional metallodrugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To detect heavy metal toxicity using self-assembled nanostructures, a clathrin triskelion-inspired highly functional C 3 -symmetric trimerized biotinylated di-tryptophan peptide was used. This triskelion peptide is known to self-assemble into nanotorus-like structures and can therefore act as a nanocage for various analytes. In this work, in addition to spectroscopy, force and electron microscopy were successfully used to detect the effect of toxic metal ions such as zinc, cadmium, and mercury by exploiting the change in the nanotorus morphology. Different concentrations of mercury led to the expansion of nanotorus structures into microtori. Therefore, we provide a unique application of heavy metal toxicity by utilizing "material nanoarchitectonics" to architect nanotorus structures into higher-order microtorus structures, as instructed by mercury. Such a strategy can make heavy metal sensing easier for materials scientists and open new avenues for biomedical/environmental science applications.