Front Cover: Hydrogel‐Stiffening and Non‐Cell Adhesive Properties of Amphiphilic Peptides with Central Alkylene Chains (Chem. Eur. J. 36/2021). Issue 36 (8th June 2021) - Yaguchi, Atsuya
Abstract : Fiber‐forming peptides are of high interest for potential biomedical applications. This work presents the unexpected effects of central alkylene chains in peptides on their self‐assembly and biological properties. Insertion of the alkylene chain at the center of the peptide allowed for strengthening of β‐sheet hydrogen bonds, formation of hydrogels with increased stiffness, thermal responses and significant decrease in the cell adhesive property. This study offers a novel molecular design to tune mechanical and biological properties of peptide materials by conformational flexibility. More information can be found in the Full Paper by T. Muraoka et al. (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100739 ).