Through the use of pre-organized tyrosine-tripeptides and enzymes, new pigments could be developed with unique optical properties, including colors, UV absorbance, and fluorescence, which surpass what is traditionally found in natural melanins. This image depicts the fluorescence of the peptide pigment that was formulated during the melanin mimetic process.

This research matters because it can lead to innovation in a variety of industries and could lead to the creation of novel materials that could change lives in a variety of manners.

Lampel, S.A. McPhee, S. Kassem, D. Sementa, T. Massarano, J. M. Aramini, Y. He, and R. V. Ulijn, Melanin-Inspired Chromophoric Microparticles Composed of Polymeric Peptide Pigments, Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2021, 60, 7564-7569.

Editorial highlights:

Chemists’ riff on melanin makes a rainbow. Nature. 2021. d41586-021-00156-2

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00156-2