Ionic liquids in protein amyloidogenesis: a brief screenshot of the state-of-the-art

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a vast class of organic non-aqueous electrolytes whose interaction with biomolecules is receiving great attention for potential applications in bio-nano-technology. Recently, it has been shown that ILs can affect protein amyloidogenesis. Whereas some ILs favour the aggregation of proteins into amyloids, others inhibit their formation. Moreover, ILs can dissolve mature fibrils and restore the protein biochemical function. In this letter, we present a brief state-of-the-art summary of this emerging field that holds the promise of important developments both in basic science and in applications from bio-medicine to material science, and bio-nano-technology. The huge variety of ILs offers a vast playground for future studies and potential applications.