title: Hydrogels for the detection and management of protease levels.
abstract: The design of hydrogels that simultaneously report protease activity and remove excess protease from solution is elucidated. The hydrogels, based on amino-PEGA, combine enzyme-specific peptides flanked with FRET complimented by charged amino acid residues that facilitate protease uptake via short range electrostatic interactions. Enzymatic response was analysed using a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, two-photon microscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. An optimised elastase-responsive hydrogel resulted in lowering of elastase levels below those typical of chronic wounds. The versatility of the modular-design approach was demonstrated by development of matrix metalloprotease and chymotrypsin sensitive systems.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Centre, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Alison G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: Rein V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Ulijn
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; C109511:bis(polyoxyethylene bis(amine)); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D010450:Endopeptidases; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase