title: Self-assembly and mineralization of peptide-amphiphile nanofibers.
abstract: We have used the pH-induced self-assembly of a peptide-amphiphile to make a nanostructured fibrous scaffold reminiscent of extracellular matrix. The design of this peptide-amphiphile allows the nanofibers to be reversibly cross-linked to enhance or decrease their structural integrity. After cross-linking, the fibers are able to direct mineralization of hydroxyapatite to form a composite material in which the crystallographic c axes of hydroxyapatite are aligned with the long axes of the fibers. This alignment is the same as that observed between collagen fibrils and hydroxyapatite crystals in bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Medical School, Northwestern University, 2225 North Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hartgerink
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beniash
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Stupp
mesh_terms: D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003460:Crystallization; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000378:metabolism; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010768:Phosphoserine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D012038:Regeneration; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D004220:Disulfides; D008823:Micelles; D010455:Peptides; D010710:Phosphates; D010768:Phosphoserine; D003094:Collagen; D017886:Durapatite; D003545:Cysteine; D002118:Calcium; D004229:Dithiothreitol