Amino acid-based biomaterials for modulation of cell behaviors: from mechanisms to biomedical applications

Amino acid-based biomaterials, encompassing sequence-defined peptides, synthetic poly(amino acid)s, and self-assembling materials, garner increased attention for their advanced potential in biomedical fields. Traditionally, these materials have been employed primarily as carriers or scaffolds for drug delivery or tissue engineering. However, recent research has uncovered their capacity to modulate cell behaviors through various chemical and physical mechanisms, setting them apart from conventional biodegradable biomaterials. The degradation of these materials yields peptide fragments or amino acids that actively participate in cell metabolism and signaling regulation, thereby extending their functionality beyond structural support. This review explores how these biomaterials influence cell processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, gene expression, secretion, intercellular communication, adhesion, phagocytosis, endocytosis, metabolism, senescence, apoptosis, polarization, and immune responses. By regulating these cell functions, either alone or in combination with other therapeutic strategies, amino acid-based biomaterials hold significant promise for applications in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and other biomedical fields. Furthermore, this review discusses the synchronization between material biodegradation kinetics and disease treatment timelines, thereby maximizing the bioactivity of degradation products and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. By highlighting the multifunctionality of amino acid-based biomaterials, this review emphasizes their potential in improving therapeutic outcomes and encourages further interdisciplinary research to fully harness their capabilities.