Banwell, E. F., Abelardo, E. S., Adams, D. J. , Birchall, M. A., Corrigan, A., Donald, A. M., Kirkland, M., Serpell, L. C., Butler, M. F. and Woolfson, D. N. (2009) Rational design and application of responsive α-helical peptide hydrogels. Nature Materials, 8(7), pp. 596-600. (doi: 10.1038/NMAT2479) (PMID:19543314) (PMCID:PMC2869032)
Full text not currently available from Enlighten.
Abstract
Biocompatible hydrogels have a wide variety of potential applications in biotechnology and medicine, such as the controlled delivery and release of cells, cosmetics and drugs, and as supports for cell growth and tissue engineering1. Rational peptide design and engineering are emerging as promising new routes to such functional biomaterials2, 3, 4. Here, we present the first examples of rationally designed and fully characterized self-assembling hydrogels based on standard linear peptides with purely alpha-helical structures, which we call hydrogelating self-assembling fibres (hSAFs). These form spanning networks of alpha-helical fibrils that interact to give self-supporting physical hydrogels of >99% water content. The peptide sequences can be engineered to alter the underlying mechanism of gelation and, consequently, the hydrogel properties. Interestingly, for example, those with hydrogen-bonded networks of fibrils melt on heating, whereas those formed through hydrophobic fibril–fibril interactions strengthen when warmed. The hSAFs are dual-peptide systems that gel only on mixing, which gives tight control over assembly5. These properties raise possibilities for using the hSAFs as substrates in cell culture. We have tested this in comparison with the widely used Matrigel substrate, and demonstrate that, like Matrigel, hSAFs support both growth and differentiation of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells for sustained periods in culture.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Adams, Dave |
| Authors: | Banwell, E. F., Abelardo, E. S., Adams, D. J., Birchall, M. A., Corrigan, A., Donald, A. M., Kirkland, M., Serpell, L. C., Butler, M. F., and Woolfson, D. N. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry |
| Journal Name: | Nature Materials |
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
| ISSN: | 1476-1122 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1476-4660 |
| Published Online: | 22 June 2009 |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Deposit and Record Details
Deposit and Record Details