Polypeptide multilayer films

Crosslinked polypeptide films via RAFT mediated continuous assembly of polymers

Polypeptide coatings are a cornerstone in the field of surface modification due to their widespread biological potential. As their properties are dictated by their structural features, subsequent control thereof using unique fabrication strategies is important. Herein, we report a facile method of precisely creating densely crosslinked polypeptide films with unusually high random coil conformations through continuous assembly polymerization via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (CAP-RAFT). CAP-RAFT was fundamentally investigated using methacrylated poly- L -lysine (PLLMA) and methacrylated poly- L -glutamic acid (PLGMA). Careful technique refinement resulted in films up to 36.1 ± 1.1 nm thick which could be increased to 94.9 ± 8.2 nm after using this strategy multiple times. PLLMA and PLGMA films were found to have 30-50% random coil conformations. Degradation by enzymes present during wound healing reveals potential for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Fabrication of novel self-healing edible coating for fruits preservation and its performance maintenance mechanism

Coating damage destroys the integrity features critical for maintaining the modified atmosphere inside the fruit. In this study, we developed a self-healing edible coating that maintains its barrier properties for extending the shelf life of strawberries. The coating was fabricated via the layer-by-layer assembly of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA). (SA/CS)₃ formed by three assembly cycles could completely heal the visibly damaged area by treating water. The mechanical properties and the water and oxygen rates of the healed coating were 97%, 63%, and 95%, respectively, of the intact coating. (SA/CS)₃ coating effectively delayed strawberry deterioration. Moreover, the coating reduced the impact of coating damage on strawberries by restoring the coating barrier properties. The present findings have important implications for solving the reduction in freshness caused by coating damage.

Strong and tuneable wet adhesion with rationally designed layer-by-layer assembled triblock copolymer films

In this study the wet adhesion between Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembled films of triblock copolymer micelles was investigated. Through the LbL assembly of triblock copolymer micelles with hydrophobic, low glass transition temperature (T_g) middle blocks and ionic outer blocks, a network of energy dissipating polymer chains with electrostatic interactions serving as crosslinks can be built. Four triblock copolymers were synthesized through Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP). One pair had a poly(2-ethyl-hexyl methacrylate) middle block with cationic or anionic outer blocks. The other pair contained the same ionic outer blocks but poly(n-butyl methacrylate) as the middle block. The wet adhesion was evaluated with colloidal probe AFM. To our knowledge, wet adhesion of the magnitude measured in this study has not previously been measured on any polymer system with this technique. We are convinced that this type of block copolymer system grants the ability to control the geometry and adhesive strength in a number of nano- and macroscale applications.

Biomimetic Extracellular Environment Based on Natural Origin Polyelectrolyte Multilayers

Surface modification of biomaterials is a well-known approach to enable an adequate biointerface between the implant and the surrounding tissue, dictating the initial acceptance or rejection of the implantable device. Since its discovery in early 1990s layer-by-layer (LbL) approaches have become a popular and attractive technique to functionalize the biomaterials surface and also engineering various types of objects such as capsules, hollow tubes, and freestanding membranes in a controllable and versatile manner. Such versatility enables the incorporation of different nanostructured building blocks, including natural biopolymers, which appear as promising biomimetic multilayered systems due to their similarity to human tissues. In this review, the potential of natural origin polymer-based multilayers is highlighted in hopes of a better understanding of the mechanisms behind its use as building blocks of LbL assembly. A deep overview on the recent progresses achieved in the design, fabrication, and applications of natural origin multilayered films is provided. Such films may lead to novel biomimetic approaches for various biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, implantable devices, cell-based biosensors, diagnostic systems, and basic cell biology.

Bacteria-responsive multilayer coatings comprising polycationic nanospheres for bacteria biofilm prevention on urinary catheters

This work reports on the development of infection-preventive coatings on silicone urinary catheters that contain in their structure and release on demand antibacterial polycationic nanospheres. Polycationic aminocellulose conjugate was first sonochemically processed into nanospheres to improve its antibacterial potential compared to the bulk conjugate in solution (ACSol). Afterward the processed aminocellulose nanospheres (ACNSs) were combined with the hyaluronic acid (HA) polyanion to build a layer-by-layer construct on silicone surfaces. Although the coating deposition was more effective when HA was coupled with ACSol than with ACNSs, the ACNSs-based coatings were thicker and displayed smoother surfaces due to the embedment of intact nanospheres. The antibacterial effect of ACNSs multilayers was 40% higher compared to ACSol coatings. This fact was further translated into more effective prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. The coatings were stable in the absence of bacteria, whereas their disassembling occurred gradually during incubation with P. aeruginosa, and thus eradicate the biofilm upon release of antibacterial agents. Only 5 bilayers of HA/ACNSs were sufficient to prevent the biofilm formation, in contrast to the 10 bilayers of ACSol required to achieve the same effect. The antibiofilm efficiency of (HA/ACNSs)10 multilayer construct built on a Foley catheter was additionally validated under dynamic conditions using a model of the catheterized bladder in which the biofilm was grown during seven days.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Antibacterial layer-by-layer coatings were fabricated on silicone that efficiently prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation during time beyond the useful lifetime of the currently employed urinary catheters in medical practice. The coatings are composed of intact, highly antibacterial polycationic nanospheres processed from aminated cellulose and bacteria-degrading glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid. The importance of incorporating nanoscale structures within bacteria-responsive surface coatings to impart durable antibacterial and self-defensive properties to the medical indwelling devices is highlighted.

Active Packaging Coatings

Active food packaging involves the packaging of foods with materials that provide an enhanced functionality, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant or biocatalytic functions. This can be achieved through the incorporation of active compounds into the matrix of the commonly used packaging materials, or by the application of coatings with the corresponding functionality through surface modification. The latter option offers the advantage of preserving the packaging materials’ bulk properties nearly intact. Herein, different coating technologies like embedding for controlled release, immobilization, layer-by-layer deposition, and photografting are explained and their potential application for active food packaging is explored and discussed.

Silica biomineralization via the self-assembly of helical biomolecules

The biomimetic synthesis of relevant silica materials using biological macromolecules as templates via silica biomineralization processes attract rapidly rising attention toward natural and artificial materials. Biomimetic synthesis studies are useful for improving the understanding of the formation mechanism of the hierarchical structures found in living organisms (such as diatoms and sponges) and for promoting significant developments in the biotechnology, nanotechnology and materials chemistry fields. Chirality is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature and is an inherent feature of biomolecular components in organisms. Helical biomolecules, one of the most important types of chiral macromolecules, can self-assemble into multiple liquid-crystal structures and be used as biotemplates for silica biomineralization, which renders them particularly useful for fabricating complex silica materials under ambient conditions. Over the past two decades, many new silica materials with hierarchical structures and complex morphologies have been created using helical biomolecules. In this review, the developments in this field are described and the recent progress in silica biomineralization templating using several classes of helical biomolecules, including DNA, polypeptides, cellulose and rod-like viruses is summarized. Particular focus is placed on the formation mechanism of biomolecule-silica materials (BSMs) with hierarchical structures. Finally, current research challenges and future developments are discussed in the conclusion.

Branched polymer models and the mechanism of multilayer film buildup

The "in and out diffusion" hypothesis does not provide a conclusive explanation of the buildup displayed by some polyelectrolyte multilayer film systems. Here, we report initial tests of an alternative hypothesis, on which the completion of each adsorption cycle results in an increase in the number of polymer binding sites on the film surface. Polycationic dendrimeric peptides, which can potentially bind several oppositely-charged peptides each, have been designed, synthesized and utilized in comparative film buildup experiments. Material deposited, internal film structure and film surface morphology have been studied by ultraviolet spectroscopy (UVS), circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Polycations tended to contribute more to film buildup than did polyanions on quartz but not on gold. Increasing the number of branches in the dendrimeric peptides from 4 to 8 reproducibly resulted in an increase in the film growth rate on quartz but not on gold. Peptide backbones tended to adopt a β-strand conformation on incorporation into a film. Thicker films had a greater surface roughness than thin films. The data are consistent with film buildup models in which the average number of polymer binding sites will increase with each successive adsorption cycle in the range where exponential growth is displayed.

Peptide-mediated constructs of quantum dot nanocomposites for enzymatic control of nonradiative energy transfer

A bottom-up approach for constructing colloidal semiconductor quantum dot (QDot) nanocomposites that facilitate nonradiative Förster-type resonance energy transfer (FRET) using polyelectrolyte peptides was proposed and realized. The electrostatic interaction of these polypeptides with altering chain lengths was probed for thermodynamic, structural, and morphological aspects. The resulting nanocomposite film was successfully cut with the protease by digesting the biomimetic peptide layer upon which the QDot assembly was constructed. The ability to control photoluminescence decay lifetime was demonstrated by proteolytic enzyme activity, opening up new possibilities for biosensor applications.

Polyelectrolyte multilayers in tissue engineering

The layer-by-layer assembly of sequentially adsorbed, alternating polyelectrolytes has become increasingly important over the past two decades. The ease and versatility in assembling polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) has resulted in numerous wide ranging applications of these materials. More recently, PEMs are being used in biological applications ranging from biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. The ability to manipulate the chemical, physical, surface, and topographical properties of these multilayer architectures by simply changing the pH, ionic strength, thickness, and postassembly modifications render them highly suitable to probe the effects of external stimuli on cellular responsiveness. In the field of regenerative medicine, the ability to sequester growth factors and to tether peptides to PEMs has been exploited to direct the lineage of progenitor cells and to subsequently maintain a desired phenotype. Additional novel applications include the use of PEMs in the assembly of three-dimensional layered architectures and as coatings for individual cells to deliver tunable payloads of drugs or bioactive molecules. This review focuses on literature related to the modulation of chemical and physical properties of PEMs for tissue engineering applications and recent research efforts in maintaining and directing cellular phenotype in stem cell differentiation.

Crosslink effect and albumin adsorption onto chitosan/alginate multilayered systems: an in situ QCM-D study

The adsorption of HSA onto CHI/ALG multilayer assemblies was assessed in situ using QCM-D. It was found that the behavior of HSA on biomaterials surface can be tuned by adjusting parameters of the polyelectrolyte system such as pH, layer number, crosslinker and polymer terminal layer. Our results confirmed the key role of electrostatic interactions during HSA adsorption, since oppositely charged surfaces were more effective in promoting protein adhesion. QCM-D data revealed that crosslinking (CHI/ALG)(5) CHI films allows HSA to become adsorbed in physiological conditions. Our results suggested that the biological potential of biopolymers and the mild conditions of the LbL technique turn these natural nanoassemblies into a suitable choice to be used as pH-sensitive coatings.

Stabilization of polyion complex nanoparticles composed of poly(amino acid) using hydrophobic interactions

We report the design and preparation of polyion complex (PIC) nanoparticles composed of anionic hydrophobically modified and cationic poly(amino acid) and the effect of hydrophobic interactions on the stability of these PIC nanoparticles under physiological conditions. We selected poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) as the biodegradable anionic polymer and poly(epsilon-lysine) (epsilon-PL) as the cationic polymer. Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of gamma-PGA and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) as the hydrophobic side chain were synthesized by grafting L-Phe to gamma-PGA. The PIC nanoparticles were prepared by mixing gamma-PGA-graft-L-Phe (gamma-PGA-Phe) with epsilon-PL in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The formation and stability of the PIC nanoparticles were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Monomodal anionic PIC nanoparticles were obtained using nonstoichiometric mixing ratios. When unmodified gamma-PGA was mixed with epsilon-PL in PBS, the formation of PIC nanoparticles was observed. However, within a few hours after the preparation, the PIC nanoparticles dissolved in the PBS. In contrast, gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL nanoparticles showed high stability for a prolonged period of time in PBS and over a wide range of pH values. The stability and size of the PIC nanoparticles depended on the gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL mixing ratio and the hydrophobicity of the gamma-PGA. The improved stability of the PIC nanoparticles was attributed to the formation of hydrophobic domains in the core of the nanoparticles. The fabrication of PIC nanoparticles using hydrophobic interactions was very useful for the stabilization of the nanoparticles. These results will provide a novel concept in the design of carrier systems composed of PIC. It is expected that the gamma-PGA-Phe/epsilon-PL nanoparticles will have great potential as multifunctional carriers for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, such as drug and vaccine delivery systems.

Multiple functionalities of polyelectrolyte multilayer films: new biomedical applications

The design of advanced functional materials with nanometer- and micrometer-scale control over their properties is of considerable interest for both fundamental and applied studies because of the many potential applications for these materials in the fields of biomedical materials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. The layer-by-layer deposition technique introduced in the early 1990s by Decher, Moehwald, and Lvov is a versatile technique, which has attracted an increasing number of researchers in recent years due to its wide range of advantages for biomedical applications: ease of preparation under "mild" conditions compatible with physiological media, capability of incorporating bioactive molecules, extra-cellular matrix components and biopolymers in the films, tunable mechanical properties, and spatio-temporal control over film organization. The last few years have seen a significant increase in reports exploring the possibilities offered by diffusing molecules into films to control their internal structures or design "reservoirs," as well as control their mechanical properties. Such properties, associated with the chemical properties of films, are particularly important for designing biomedical devices that contain bioactive molecules. In this review, we highlight recent work on designing and controlling film properties at the nanometer and micrometer scales with a view to developing new biomaterial coatings, tissue engineered constructs that could mimic in vivo cellular microenvironments, and stem cell "niches."

Layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolyte-polyelectrolyte complexes for multilayer film fabrication

Positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) complexes (noted as PAH-PAA) with a molar excess of PAH were layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled with polyanion poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to produce multilayer films. The film structure and deposition behavior of the PAH-PAA/PSS films were influenced by the structure of PAH-PAA complexes in solution. For the PAH-PAA complexes with a low ratio of PAA to PAH the PAH-PAA complexes have low-level cross-linking and are flexible. The resultant PAH-PAA/PSS films have a thin film thickness and smooth surface and exhibit a nonlinear deposition behavior where the amount of PAH-PAA complexes and PSS deposited in each deposition cycle are larger than in its previous cycle. The PAH-PAA complexes with a high ratio of PAA to PAH have high-level cross-linking and are rigid. The PAH-PAA/PSS films constructed from the rigid PAH-PAA complexes have a large film thickness and rough surface and exhibit a linear deposition behavior. Deposition of the PAH-PAA/PSS films was well characterized by quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The thermally cross-linked PAH-PAA/PSS films can be released from substrate to form stable free-standing films by an ion-triggered exfoliation method. Meanwhile, positively charged PAH-PAA complexes can be LbL assembled with negatively charged PAH-PAA complexes with a molar excess of PAA to produce multilayer films. Use of polyelectrolyte-polyelectrolyte complexes as building blocks for LbL fabrication provides a facile way to tailor the structures of the resultant films by simply changing the structure of the complexes in solution.

Reinvestigation on the buildup mechanism of alternate multilayers consisting of poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-, D-, and DL-lysines)

The buildup mechanism of polypeptide multilayers prepared by the layer-by-layer deposition of a polyanion (poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA)) and polycations (poly(L-lysine) (PLL), poly(D-lysine) (PDL), and copoly(DL-lysine)(PDLL)) was reinvestigated by using in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy. A difference spectral technique applied to analyze the spectra indicated that the deposition of both the PGA and PLL (PDL) layers accompanies the formation of secondary structures consisting mainly of the antiparallel pleated sheet (the beta-sheet) structure, and that the formation of the beta-sheet structure cannot always be explained in terms of polyanion/polycation complex formation or charge compensation between the polyanion and polycations, although it has been considered as a major process in the multilayer buildup process. Instead, the present paper proposes the following mechanism. During the deposition of the polyelectrolyte, a small amount of the beta-sheet structures are produced at the interface as a result of charge compensation between a polyelectrolyte and an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte in the multilayer. The beta-sheets act as nuclei from which further propagation of the structure takes place at the solution/multilayer interfaces. The driving force of the buildup process in the new mechanism is a kinetically favorable insolubilization of each polyelectrolyte in solution at the interfaces.

Nanovehicular intracellular delivery systems

This article provides an overview of principles and barriers relevant to intracellular drug and gene transport, accumulation and retention (collectively called as drug delivery) by means of nanovehicles (NV). The aim is to deliver a cargo to a particular intracellular site, if possible, to exert a local action. Some of the principles discussed in this article apply to noncolloidal drugs that are not permeable to the plasma membrane or to the blood-brain barrier. NV are defined as a wide range of nanosized particles leading to colloidal objects which are capable of entering cells and tissues and delivering a cargo intracelullarly. Different localization and targeting means are discussed. Limited discussion on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is also presented. NVs are contrasted to micro-delivery and current nanotechnologies which are already in commercial use. Newer developments in NV technologies are outlined and future applications are stressed. We also briefly review the existing modeling tools and approaches to quantitatively describe the behavior of targeted NV within the vascular and tumor compartments, an area of particular importance. While we list "elementary" phenomena related to different level of complexity of delivery to cancer, we also stress importance of multi-scale modeling and bottom-up systems biology approach.

Locally controlled release of basic fibroblast growth factor from multilayered capsules

Biodegradable multilayered capsules encapsulating basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were developed as a cytokine release carrier for drug delivery systems. The multilayered hollow capsules were fabricated via the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of chitosan (CT) and dextran sulfate (Dex). The bFGF was encapsulated into the CT/Dex multilayered capsules by controlling the membrane permeability, and the local and sustained release of bFGF from the capsules was examined. At pH < 8.0, the capsule membrane tightened, and FITC-dextran ( Mw = 4000) could not enter the capsules. However, FITC-dextran ( M w = 250000) easily entered the capsules at pH > 8.0, which can be attributed to the electrostatic repulsion of Dex caused by the deprotonation of the amine group in CT. After treatment with acetic acid buffer (pH 5.6), FITC-dextran or bFGF was successfully encapsulated into the capsules. The amount of encapsulated bFGF was approximately 34 microg/1 mg of capsule. Initially, about 30% of the encapsulated bFGF was released in serum-free medium within a few hours, however, the release was sustained over 70 h. When the bFGF encapsulating capsules were added to cell culture medium (serum-free), the mouse L929 fibroblast cells proliferated well for 2 weeks as compared to cultures, where bFGF was added to the medium or where bFGF and empty hollow capsules were added separately. The proliferation is due to the local and sustained release of bFGF from the adsorbent capsule to the cell surface.

Preparation of orthogonally functionalized surface using micromolding in capillaries technique for the control of cellular adhesion

This study presents a simple method for the fabrication of an orthogonal surface that can be applied for cell patterning without the need to immobilize specific adhesive peptides, proteins, or extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell attachment. Micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) produced two distinctive regions. One region contained poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) diblock copolymer (PEG-PLA) designed to provide a biological barrier to the nonspecific binding of proteins and fibroblast cells. The other region was coated with polyelectrolyte (PEL) to promote the adhesion of biomolecules including proteins and cells. Resistance to the adsorption of proteins increased with the length of PEG and PLA chains because the longer PEG chain increased the PEG layer thickness and the longer PLA chain induced stronger interaction with the PEL surface. The PEG5k-PLA2.5k (20mg/ml) was the most efficient candidate for the prevention of protein adhesion among the PEG-PLA copolymers examined. The orthogonal functionality of prepared surfaces having PEL regions and background PEG-PLA regions resulted in rapid patterning of biomolecules. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-tagged bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and fibroblast cells successfully adhered to the exposed PEL surfaces. Although methods for cell patterning generally require an adhesive protein layer on the desired area, these fabricated surfaces without adhesive proteins provide a gentle microenvironment for cells. In addition, our proposed approach could easily control patterns, sizes, and shapes at micron scale.

Context dependence of the assembly, structure, and stability of polypeptide multilayer nanofilms

Polyelectrolyte multilayer nanofilms and nanocomposites have shown considerable promise for the rational development of multifunctional materials with wide-ranging properties. Polypeptides are a distinctive and largely unexplored class of polyelectrolytes in this context. Methods now exist for the synthesis of peptides with control at the level of the amino acid sequence, and for the preparation of these polymers in massive quantities. Here, we analyze the roles of six designed 32mer peptides in the fabrication, structure, and stability of multilayer nanofilms prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly. The data show that amino acid sequence and the specific combination of anionic and cationic peptides together have a marked impact on nanofilm growth behavior, secondary structure content, and density in experimental studies. The same factors determine physical properties of the corresponding interpolypeptide complexes in molecular dynamics simulations.

Enzymatic desorption of layer-by-layer assembled multilayer films and effects on the release of encapsulated indomethacin microcrystals

Polyelectrolyte multilayer films were prepared through layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of chitosan (CHI) and pyrene labeled poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (APy). After incubation in an enzyme pepsin solution, multilayer films were partially destroyed as detected by a decrease in fluorescence intensity due to enzymatic degradation of CHI and desorption of APy. The multilayer desorption rate was the highest at pH 4.0. Increasing temperature from 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C accelerated desorption. The enzymatic desorption was also observed from microcapsule walls made of CHI/alginate (ALG) multilayer films directly deposited on indomethacin (IDM) microcrystals by LbL self-assembly. After pepsin erosion, the IDM release from the microcapsule monitored by UV absorbance was obviously accelerated due to desorption. The influence of incubation time, pH, and temperature of the pepsin solution on the IDM release was investigated. The release rate was the fastest after incubation in the pepsin solution at pH 4.0 due to the highest activity of pepsin. Increasing incubation temperature from 20 degrees C to 60 degrees C, however, slowed down the release rate, which was considered to be due to the formation of more perfect and compact multilayer films through the chain rearrangement at higher temperatures. The CHI/ALG multilayer film was found to maintain its barrier function to the IDM diffusion even after 6-h incubation in the pepsin solution.

Patterning of proteins and cells on functionalized surfaces prepared by polyelectrolyte multilayers and micromolding in capillaries

A method for protein and cell patterning on polyelectrolyte-coated surfaces using simple micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) is described. MIMIC produced two distinctive regions. One contained polyethylene glycol (PEG) microstructures fabricated using photopolymerization that provided physical, chemical, and biological barriers to the nonspecific binding of proteins, bacteria, and fibroblast cells. The second region was the polyelectrolyte (PEL) coated surface that promoted protein and cell immobilization. The difference in surface functionality between the PEL region and background PEG microstructures resulted in simple patterning of biomolecules. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-tagged bovine serum albumin, E. coli expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP), and fibroblast cells were successfully bound to the exposed PEL surfaces at micron scale. Compared with the simple adsorption of protein, fluorescence intensity was dramatically improved (by about six-fold) on the PEL-modified surfaces. Although animal cell patterning is prerequisite for adhesive protein layer to survive on desired area, the PEL surface without adhesive proteins provides affordable microenvironment for cells. The simple preparation of functionalized surface but universal platform can be applied to various biomolecules such as proteins, bacteria, and cells.

Controlled loading and release of a model drug from polypeptide multilayer nanofilms

A major concern of medicine today is the sustained release of therapeutic compounds. Delivery vehicles for such compounds must be biocompatible. Ideally, loading a drug into the delivery vehicle will be a simple process, and vehicle properties will allow control over the drug release profile under desired conditions. Here, polypeptide multilayer nanofilms have been prepared by electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly to study the post-fabrication loading and release of a model therapeutic, methylene blue (MB). Drug loading and release have been characterized by optical spectroscopy for different peptide designs at different pH values, and film surface morphology has been characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Differences in peptide structure have been found to influence MB loading and release under otherwise fixed conditions. Release is also influenced by pH, salt concentration, and number of "capping" layers. Although more research will be needed to exhaust the potential of polypeptide multilayer films, present results would suggest that the technology holds considerable promise for applications in medicine.