Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted great interest as they constitute one of the
most promising alternatives against drug-resistant infections. Their amphipathic nature
provides them antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties but also the ability to selfassemble into supramolecular nanostructures. Here, we propose their use as selfassembling domains to drive hierarchical organization of intrinsically disordered protein
polymers (IDPPs). Using a modular approach, hybrid protein-engineered polymers were
recombinantly produced, thus combining designer AMPs and a thermoresponsive IDPP,
an elastin-like recombinamer (ELR). We exploited the ability of these AMPs and ELRs to
self-assemble to develop supramolecular nanomaterials by way of a dual-assembly
process. First, the AMPs trigger the formation of nanofibers, then the
thermoresponsiveness of the ELRs enables assembly into fibrillar aggregates. The
interplay between the assembly of AMPs and ELRs provides an innovative molecular tool
in the development of self-assembling nanosystems with potential use for
biotechnological and biomedical applications.
