Peptide Applications

Today, we share groundbreaking research by the team of Samuel I. Stupp, published in Advanced Materials. This study successfully developed a water-soluble, self-assembling novel organic ferroelectric material by inducing symmetry breaking through peptide molecules. This material not only exhibits an ultralow driving voltage (±2.5 kV/cm) but also significantly promotes the growth of neuronal axons. This work opens a new avenue for developing water-processable, biocompatible ferroelectric biomaterials, bringing new possibilities for bioelectronic devices and neural regenerative medicine.

Globally, with the increasing number of immunocompromised patients, advancements in intensive care, and the widespread use of immunosuppressive drugs, the incidence and mortality rates of invasive fungal infections are continuously rising. Facing this severe challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO), for the first time in 2022, released a "Fungal Priority Pathogens List," categorizing Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Candida albicansas "critical priority" pathogens. These fungi not only possess multidrug resistance but also exhibit strong capabilities in biofilm formation and host immune evasion mechanisms, leading to frequent failures of existing antifungal drugs in clinical treatment.

In this context, Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), as an emerging therapeutic strategy, are garnering high attention from scientists and clinicians. The review titled "Repositioning Antimicrobial Peptides Against WHO‐Priority Fungi" published in Advanced Sciencesystematically revisits the mechanisms, optimization strategies, and application prospects of AMPs in antifungal therapy, offering new ideas to combat drug-resistant fungi.

Today, we are sharing a significant research article published in the journal Cell. This study employed a machine learning-based approach to predict nearly one million novel Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) from the global microbiome, encompassing 63,410 metagenomes and 87,920 high-quality prokaryotic genomes. The research established a comprehensive, open-access resource named AMPSphere, containing 863,498 non-redundant candidate AMPs (c_AMPs). The team synthesized 100 predicted peptides for experimental validation, finding that 79 exhibited antibacterial activity in vitro, and 63 effectively targeted ESKAPEE pathogens. Further investigations using structural biology, biochemistry, and murine infection models confirmed that these peptides function by disrupting bacterial membranes. Notably, some lead compounds demonstrated in vivoanti-infective efficacy comparable to clinical antibiotics. This work not only reveals the vast diversity of AMPs within the microbiome, providing a novel molecular library to combat antibiotic resistance, but also powerfully demonstrates the enormous potential of artificial intelligence in accelerating antimicrobial drug discovery.

Today, we share an important study published in Nature, which reports for the first time a novel lasso peptide antibiotic named lariocidin (LAR), produced by Paenibacillussp. M2. LAR potently targets the small ribosomal subunit of bacteria, exerting broad-spectrum antibacterial activity by inhibiting protein synthesis and inducing miscoding. Through genomic mining, heterologous expression, structural biology, and animal model validation, the study comprehensively elucidates the unique mechanism of action of LAR, demonstrating its low propensity for resistance development, low toxicity to eukaryotic cells, and significant efficacy in a murine infection model. This work not only identifies the first lasso peptide targeting the ribosome but also provides a new candidate drug framework for combating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

The internationally renowned journal Drugshas published the first approval report on Mazdutide (Xin'ermei®). Originally developed by Eli Lilly and subsequently developed and commercialized in the Chinese market through a licensing collaboration with Innovent Biologics, Mazdutide received its first global approval in China in June 2025 for the long-term management of body weight in adults with obesity or overweight. In September 2025, its approval was extended to include glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D). As the world's first approved dual glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucagon receptor (GcgR) agonist, its clinical studies continue to explore indications for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and obstructive sleep apnea, among others. This article aims to comprehensively analyze this breakthrough therapy, which offers a new approach to treating metabolic diseases, covering its development history, core characteristics, clinical data, and approval status.

Today, we share a forward-looking perspective article led by the research team of Yi Cai from Sichuan Agricultural University, published in the authoritative plant science journal Molecular Plant. This article systematically elaborates on the immense potential of phytopeptides as next-generation biopesticides and biostimulants. Innovatively proposing a comprehensive innovation system encompassing "plant peptide identification, molecular design, bio-manufacturing, ecological assessment, synergistic innovation of pesticides and seeds, and field application," the paper integrates cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and synthetic biology. It provides a scientifically grounded and feasible systematic solution to address industrial bottlenecks, including the high production costs and poor field stability associated with peptide scale-up.

Today we share important research published in Advanced Materialsby the team of Guangyan Qing from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Addressing the global challenge of specifically clearing blood endotoxin (LPS) in sepsis therapy, this study pioneeringly proposes a dual-affinity strategy. By screening high-affinity targeting peptides via phage display and constructing molecularly imprinted polymers with geometrically matched cavities through emulsion interfacial polymerization, followed by their conjugation, the work successfully creates an LPS adsorbent exhibiting high specificity, high adsorption capacity, and excellent biocompatibility, demonstrating outstanding therapeutic potential in septic animal models.

Today, we are sharing a research article led by the team of Kuan Zhang, published in Advanced Materials. This study proposes a modular design strategy that successfully develops a new generation of hydrogel bioadhesives by integrating genetically engineered supercharged polypeptides (SUP) with synthetic hydrogel networks. This strategy skillfully balances adhesion strength and cohesive strength, achieving rapid and effective hemostasis and wound healing in various complex physiological environments (such as the liver, beating heart, and acidic stomach). For the first time in such materials, it also enables gentle, triggerable benign detachment, providing a universal new paradigm for the development of biomedical adhesives.