Magnetic resonance imaging of self-assembled biomaterial scaffolds.
Current interest in biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications have spurred research into self-assembling peptide amphiphiles (PAs). Nanofiber networks formed from self-assembling PAs can be used as biomaterial scaffolds with the advantage of specificity by the incorporation of peptide-epitopes. Imaging the materials noninvasively will give information as to their fate in vivo. We report here the synthesis and in vitro MR images of self-assembling peptide amphiphile contrast agents (PACAs) that form nanofibers. At 400 MHz using a 0.1 mM Gd(III) conjugate of the PA we observed a T(1) three times that of a control gel. The PA derivative was doped into various epitope bearing PA solutions and upon gelling resulted in a homogeneous biomaterial as imaged by MRI.
Bull
Steve R
SR
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Guler
Mustafa O
MO
Bras
Rafael E
RE
Venkatasubramanian
Palamadai N
PN
Stupp
Samuel I
SI
Meade
Thomas J
TJ
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003287:Contrast Media; D000939:Epitopes; D005782:Gels; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003287:Contrast Media; D000939:Epitopes; D005782:Gels; D010455:Peptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents