title: Controlling stiffness in nanostructured hydrogels produced by enzymatic dephosphorylation.
abstract: In the present paper, we report on enzyme-initiated self-assembly of Fmoc (fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl)-tyrosine hydrogels by enzymatic dephosphorylation under physiological conditions and provide evidence for the ability to control the modulus. Upon enzyme action, a self-assembling network of interconnecting fibres is formed, observed by cryo-SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). The concentration of alkaline phosphatase added to the Fmoc-tyrosine phosphate ester precursor solution had a direct effect on the gelation time, mechanical properties and molecular arrangements as determined through oscillatory rheology, fluorescence spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy. This highly tuneable cost-effective gel system may have applications in three-dimensional cell culture.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Catherine L R
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.forename: Rein V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Ulijn
mesh_terms: D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes; D020100:Hydrogels; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases