Self-assembling peptides: implications for patenting in drug delivery and tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Patent Law

Background:

• Molecular self-assembly of peptides, peptide amphiphiles, and peptidomimetics is a rapidly advancing field.
• Patents are increasingly filed for these self-assembling systems due to their diverse applications.
• Understanding design rules and patent landscapes is crucial for innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of recent patents on molecular self-assembly of peptides and related molecules.
• To highlight the potential applications of these self-assembling systems in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
• To analyze the design strategies and structural properties driving patentability.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent patents related to self-assembling peptides, peptide amphiphiles, and peptidomimetics.
• Analysis of design rules, including peptide structures and self-organization mechanisms.
• Categorization of self-assembling systems based on morphology and scale (nano- and micro-scale).

Main Results:

• Identified key design strategies involving peptide amphiphiles, aromatic derivatives, and block copolymers.
• Highlighted the importance of peptide structure (e.g., β-sheets, α-helices) in forming ordered nanoarchitectures.
• Cataloged diverse patented self-assembling systems including fibers, hydrogels, vesicles, and particles.

Conclusions:

• Self-assembling peptides and related molecules offer versatile platforms for advanced materials.
• Significant patent activity underscores the therapeutic and technological potential in drug delivery and tissue engineering.
• Future developments are expected in synthetic tissue replacements, medical materials, and diagnostic technologies.