title: Cytocompatibility of self-assembled beta-hairpin peptide hydrogel surfaces.
abstract: MAX1 is a 20 amino acid peptide that undergoes triggered self-assembly to form a rigid hydrogel. When dissolved in aqueous solutions, this peptide exists in an ensemble of random coil conformations rendering it fully soluble. The addition of an exogenous stimulus results in peptide folding into beta-hairpin conformation. This folded structure undergoes rapid assembly into a highly crosslinked hydrogel network. DMEM cell culture media is one stimulus able to initiate folding and consequent self-assembly of MAX1. The cytocompatibility of this gel towards NIH 3T3 murine fibroblasts is demonstrated. Gels were shown to be non-toxic to the fibroblast cells. MAX1 hydrogels also foster the ability of the cells to attach to the hydrogel scaffold in the absence or presence of serum proteins. Additionally MAX1 hydrogels were able to support fibroblast proliferation to confluency with little effect on the rheological properties of the scaffold. MAX1 hydrogels meet the preliminary mechanical and cytocompatibiltiy requirements of a tissue engineering scaffold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 115 Brown Lab, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
authors.forename: Juliana K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kretsinger
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozbas
authors.forename: Darrin J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pochan
authors.forename: Joel P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D017510:Protein Folding; D012212:Rheology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides