Applications and advancements of peptides in the design of metallic nanomaterials

Metal and metal oxide nanomaterials have proven to be an integral part of daily life from their use in industrial catalysis, medical therapeutics, and miniaturized devices. While these materials are implemented to “green up” different applications, the fabrication approaches for these particles often require toxic reagents, harsh conditions, and leave behind a significant amount of waste. As a result, their synthesis can often be inefficient with respect to the environmental factor (E-Factor). By advancing the fundamental science of bio-hybrid materials, including peptide/metal and peptide/polymer systems, we can incorporate the principles of green chemistry into the material design and function by harnessing the natural capacity of the biomolecule in a biomimetic fashion. This brief Opinion highlights current research in hybrid peptides and peptide-mediated materials to show how improvements in understanding the complex interactions at the abiotic/biotic interface have the potential to revolutionize current material syntheses.