[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Emergent properties of supramolecular peptide assemblies

## Details

**Authors** Á. Vila, S. González, I. Insua

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Chemical Communications

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Chemistry

**Applied** false

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1039/D5CC05628D) 
10.1039/D5CC05628D

## In authors' words

### Abstract

The self-assembly of supramolecular monomers can change their chemical properties and produce emergent functions that are absent in their dispersed state.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To review and synthesize the mechanisms by which self-assembly of peptide-based supramolecular monomers gives rise to emergent chemical and functional properties.

### Who or what was studied (sample)

Not an original empirical sample; a literature review covering supramolecular peptide assembly systems reported across the field.

### How they did it (methods)

Narrative synthesis of published studies on monomer packing structure and reactive-group proximity in peptide self-assembly.

### What they found (results)

The review concludes that supramolecular self-assembly of peptide monomers produces emergent functions - including catalytic activity, chiral amplification, and life-like behaviors - that are absent in the dispersed, unassembled monomers themselves.

## Commentary

### In short

Demonstrates a whole (the assembled peptide structure) exhibiting properties absent in any of its parts (the isolated monomers), a canonical part-whole finding.

**Patterns it shows** S

**Added** 2026-09-28

**How to cite this** Á. Vila, S. González, I. Insua (2026). Emergent properties of supramolecular peptide assemblies. Chemical Communications.