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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
09:54
Synthesis and Characterization of 1,2-Dithiolane Modified Self-Assembling Peptides
Published on: August 20, 2018
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Dynamic thiol-disulfide exchange regulated protein assembly for adaptive and functional material design
Aiting Gao1, Xin Guo1, Jiaqi Wen1
1Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China. yangpeng@snnu.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|January 14, 2026
Summary
Dynamic thiol-disulfide exchange enables controlled protein assembly for advanced materials. This reversible chemistry allows precise organization into various architectures for applications like drug delivery and self-healing hydrogels.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Controlled protein assembly in vitro is a significant challenge.
- Dynamic thiol-disulfide exchange is a key biological reaction regulating protein folding and redox balance.
- This reversible chemistry offers a programmable tool for adaptive material construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the chemical principles of thiol-disulfide exchange-driven protein assembly.
- To highlight the potential of this mechanism in creating functional, adaptive protein-based materials.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing the chemical foundation of thiol-disulfide exchange.
- Reviewing applications in material design.
Main Results:
- Thiol-disulfide exchange provides precise control over protein organization.
- This enables the creation of 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D protein architectures.
- Applications include programmable drug release, self-healing hydrogels, and biofunctional coatings.
Conclusions:
- Thiol-disulfide exchange is a versatile and programmable strategy for protein assembly.
- It facilitates the development of advanced, adaptive protein-based materials.
- This approach holds significant promise for diverse applications in materials science and biotechnology.
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