Hybrid hydrogels self-assembled from HPMA copolymers containing peptide grafts.
Graft copolymers were designed that self-assemble into hydrogels mediated by the interaction of coiled-coil peptide domains. A linear hydrophilic polymer of HPMA was chosen as the backbone, and coiled-coil forming peptides, covalently attached to the backbone, formed the grafts. Microrheology was used to evaluate the self-assembly of graft copolymers into hydrogels. The results revealed that the length and the number of coiled-coil grafts per chain had a significant influence on the gelation process. At least 4 heptads were needed to achieve the association of graft copolymers into hydrogels. CD spectra of the copolymer containing 5 heptad grafts further suggested that coiled-coil formation may contribute to the self-assembly. Gelation of graft copolymers containing CC4 peptides indicated that a threshold amount of grafts per macromolecule is needed to form a three-dimensional structure. These studies demonstrated a potential of the graft copolymers to create self-assembling hydrogels with desirable and controllable structures.
Yang
Jiyuan
J
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Xu
Chunyu
C
Kopecková
Pavla
P
Kopecek
Jindrich
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012212:Rheology
D020100:Hydrogels; D008689:Methacrylates; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; C032802:hydroxypropyl methacrylate