Peptides at the forefront: from bioactive compounds to smart materials

Amino acids and peptides are the molecular basis of the living matter, being key components of proteins, neurotransmitters, signaling systems. The modularity of amino acids and their ability at driving the self-organization lead to a high versatility in their functions. Furthermore, unnatural amino acids can endlessly expand the scope and the application of peptides and peptide mimics ranging from biology, biomedicine, and pharmacology to catalysis and materials science.