Protein-based materials: Applications, modification and molecular design

Proteins are the fundamental building blocks of nature, constructing complex molecular machines and dynamic materials. They form the protein complexes that drive life cycles and the cellular skeletal components and muscle fibers responsible for movements. Due to their extensive molecular diversity, many biomedical and industrial challenges associated with natural proteins remain unsolved. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the structure and function of fibrous proteins, elastin, and mucins, emphasizing their roles as protein materials. It also explores their diverse applications across food, environmental, and biomedical sectors. Additionally, we focus on strategies for optimizing protein structure, including chemical modifications and molecular design, by comparing current design methods and software to summarize recent technological developments. Finally, we explore the challenges and prospects of applying artificial intelligence to complex protein structure design. This application has the potential to advance the development and application of intricate protein materials, address functional defects or instability in biomedicine, and enhance our understanding of natural protein mechanisms. These interdisciplinary collaborations will pave the way for designing new multifunctional proteins.