Bottom-up protocell assembly

Supramolecular antimicrobials

Our research involves rational peptide design and synthesis for tailored nanomaterial self-assembly

We study bacterial components as triggers for peptide self-assembly towards antimicrobial applications. Supramolecular events can control the cytotoxic activity of peptides based on their assembled state.

Insua et al. Polym. Chem. 2016
Insua et al. Eur. Polym. J. 2017
Insua et al. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2018

Supramolecular cooperativity can be exploited to mimic in a very simplistic fashion the complex functions of living cells. Minimal cell mimics (i.e. protocells) can be thus designed to expand and/or replace living cells or tissues.

Insua et al. Chem 2020
Booth & Insua et al. Nat. Commun. 2021