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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Chemical complexity--supramolecular self-assembly of synthetic and biological building blocks in water
Jameel M Zayed1, Nicolas Nouvel, Urs Rauwald
1Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
Abstract:
Aqueous supramolecular chemistry, the non-covalent assembly of simple building blocks into higher ordered architectures in water has received much focus recently. Biological systems are able to form complex, and well-defined microstructures essential to cellular function, and supramolecular chemistry has demonstrated its utility in assembling molecules to form increasingly complex assemblies. This tutorial review will summarise non-covalent building blocks based on both synthetic and biological systems in an aqueous environment, emphasising the complexity of the assemblies formed. Examples of higher ordered assemblies will be highlighted, from supramolecular plastics to spider silks, towards more compartmentalised protocell precursors.
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