(104a) Protein Analogous Micelles: Versatile, Modular Nanoparticles

Peptides are functional modules of protein macromolecules that can be displayed apart from the whole protein to create biofunctional surfaces and interfaces, or can be re-assembled in new ways to create synthetic mimics of protein structures. Each of these routes are being employed to gain new insight into protein folding and to develop new, functional, biomolecular materials. Examples of work from our laboratory in this area using peptide-lipid conjugate molecules (peptide amphiphiles) will be discussed relating to multi-functional surfaces, DNA-binding peptide assemblies, synthetic vaccines, and protein analogous micelles for cancer and cardiovascular therapeutics. Spherical micelles with characteristic dimensions of less than 20 nanometers are very effective in avoiding clearnace before reaching targeted pathlogical tissues. Particular applications to targeting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and solid tumors will be described. Aspects of structure-function relationships, stability and control of geometry of these assemblies will be discussed. Protein anaologous micelles represent the most flexible, potent and versatile class of nanoparticles for any applications.