Controlling stiffness in nanostructured hydrogels produced by enzymatic dephosphorylation.
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.
Thornton
Kate
K
School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, UK.
Smith
Andrew M
AM
Merry
Catherine L R
CL
Ulijn
Rein V
RV
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
D004798:Enzymes; D020100:Hydrogels; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases