The present invention provides novel compounds that are quinoline foldamers. Such foldamers stabilize and bind to islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). In certain embodiments, the quinoline foldamers of the invention are soluble and cross biological membranes without cellular assistance. The present invention further provides novel method of preventing or treating diabetes in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one quinoline foldamer of the invention. The present invention further provides novel method of preventing or treating a neurodegenerative disease caused by a misfolded and/or unstructured protein in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one quinoline foldamer of the invention.