Insua
Research themes
Supramolecular therapeutics: cytotoxic agents whose action is controlled by self- assembly with application as antimicrobials and antitumoral agents.
Cooperative behaviour: supramolecular nanostructuras whose monomers perform collective tasks like molecular recognition and self-replication.
Main researcher(s)
Group members
González Domínguez, Sela |
PhD Candidate |
Research
Peptides and proteins are natural molecules reponsible for the vast majority of cellular processes. The activity of a protein is only possible if folded correctly in a three dimensional conformation, mainly by non-convalent interactions. Thus, proteins can reach great structural complexity that translates into highly specific functions and interactions.
Inspired by natural protein folding motifs, it is possible to rationally design short protein fragments (i.e. peptides) able to produce functional nanostructures by non-covalent interactions. Just like Lego® blocks, small peptides can connect by supramolecular forces to generate complex ordered nanotstructures (i.e. self-assembly).
Overall, our group works on the design and development of self-assembling peptides for biomedical application, combining chemistry and nanotechnology towards biology.
SUPRAMOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS
The current concept of a medicine consists of an active ingredient (i.e. drug) that acts as a single molecule in the organism to trigger a therapeutic action. Thus, the drug binds its target, usually a receptor on the cell surface or an enzyme, causing its activation or inhibition.
Our group aims to break the dogma of medicines being single drug molecules, drawing attention instead to supramolecular nanostructures as therapeutic agents. While nanomaterials for drug delivery have been studied for decades, these are inert pharmacollogically, being mere drug carriers. Our vision is to develop active nanostructures as therapeutic agents, whose action can be controlled by reversible supramolecular (dis)assembly events.
In this research line, we study cytotoxic peptides able to control their antimicrobial and antitumoral action based on their supramolecular state (e.g. assembled = inactive; disassembled = active). We can use environmental, chemical and biological stimuli to trigger supramolecular transitions and thus direct their action.
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COOPERATIVE BEHAVIOUR
Systems chemistry studies the emerging properties and functions of molecules interacting or interconverting. This field is directly connected to the chemical foundation of life, where the properties of a mixture of molecules go far beyond the sum of their individual properties. It is only through the coordination and energy state of cellular components that living matter can perform its functions - this is systems chemistry.
Great part of the work in systems chemistry revolves around supramolecular designs, since self-assembled molecules can perform collective tasks, for example, generate biomimetic catalytic environments, produce dissipative supramolecular assemblies, or competitive molecular replication (i.e. molecular Darwinian evolution).
Our group develops peptides with cooperative functions as new-generation biotechnological and therapeutic tools. Thus, minimal synthetic cells, or protocells, aim to mimic cellular functions from inert commercial chemicals (e.g. selective molecular uptake, cell communication, molecular replication, etc.).
