Nature Communications: Enzyme-Responsive Peptide Dendron Nanoassemblies Target Intracellular Drug-Resistant Bacteria
A Nature Communications paper describes peptide dendron nanoassemblies that shape-shift in response to bacterial enzymes to eradicate intracellular drug-resistant bacteria while protecting host macrophages. The nanoassemblies combine self-assembling regions, cell-penetrating motifs, enzyme-responsive sequences, and integrin-targeting ligands, transforming from nanoparticles to nanofibers for prolonged cell retention before converting back to nanoparticles for cellular uptake.