What are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids, generally spanning between 2 to 50 residues, bound by peptide bonds. They are less than protein-sized and can be considered to be the constituents of proteins [1]. Peptides are multifunctional biopolymers with diverse biological functions that can pass through cell walls and are therapeutic candidates for many diseases [2].
Peptides can be biologically active and play physiological roles in life. They are effective in food processing as a preservative or antioxidant, keeping food from deteriorating. In the pharmaceutical field, they can be used as antioxidants, antihypertensives, anticoagulants, and immunomodulators, among other things [3].
Peptides also control gene expression and protein production in other lifeforms like humans. They also can egress into cell nuclei and reach the nucleosome, the histone proteins (which control how readily DNA is used to make proteins), and DNA [4].
Peptides can bypass physiological and transport challenges in drug delivery posed by disease, making them appealing to the drug delivery and materials engineering community for drug applications, molecular building blocks, and cell-targeting ligands [5].
Are Peptides Illegal?
Peptides aren’t illegal in themselves. They are natural and manufactured substances with a broad spectrum of medicinal uses.
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