The Cover Feature illustrates three strategies for the generation of dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) of peptide or peptidomimetic-based assemblies. Exploring their self-adaptative potential can lead to the discovery of smart nanomaterials, drug nanocarriers or drugs for untreated diseases. Cover design by Ashmi Rodrigues. More information can be found in the Review by Ashmi Rodrigues, Lou Rocard and Roba Moumné.
Dynamic combinatorial library of peptides can be generated either through amino-acid like monomers oligomerization, amino-acid side-chain grafting on static scaffolds or pre-synthesized peptide assembly. These stimuli responsive libraries are of great value for screening purpose in drug discovery, biosensing or material sciences.
A strong revival of interest has been dedicated to peptides over the last few years, in different fields including drug discovery, biosensing and material sciences. The use of dynamic covalent chemistry has allowed the development of self-adaptative peptides or peptidomimetics, responsive to their environment. The development of methods allowing the building, screening or deconvolution of libraries of peptides is a highly active research area and dynamic combinatorial chemistry represents an innovative and underexploited method in this field. This Review gives an overview of the use of dynamic covalent chemistry as a tool to produce peptides or peptidomimetics, with particular attention to applications in dynamic combinatorial chemistry.