Construction of Functional Biomaterials by Biomolecular Self-Assembly

This account discusses construction strategies for various functional biomaterials based on the designed self-assembly of biomolecules. Novel glycoclusters with regular intervals were developed by self-assembly of carbohydrate-conjugated oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) with the half-sliding complementary ODNs. Complexes of carbohydrate-modified DNA and lectin afforded a new regulation system for gene expression. DNA three-way junctions bearing self-complementary sticky-ends were self-assembled into nanometer-to-micrometer-sized spherical structures depending on the concentration. The three-way component design was extended to the design of an artificial trigonal peptide conjugate. The trigonal peptide conjugates bearing β-sheet-forming peptides or glutathione self-assembled into nano-sized spherical assemblies. Self-assembly of β-annulus peptide derived from tomato bushy stunt virus afforded artificial viral capsids, which can encapsulate and be modified with various molecules