title: A thermoresponsive hydrogel based on telechelic PEG end-capped with hydrophobic dipeptides.
abstract: The self-assembly in aqueous solution of PEG (1500 Da) telechelically end-capped with hydrophobic dipeptides has been investigated using spectroscopic, microscopic, scattering, and rheological methods. A self-assembled β-sheet fibril-based hydrogel has been identified (containing dityrosine end groups), which exhibits a gel-sol transition near body temperature. This thermo-responsive PEG-based biofunctional hydrogel is expected to have diverse potential uses in delivery or diagnostics for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK. i.w.hamley@reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hamley
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castelletto
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008970:Molecular Weight; D044367:Phase Transition; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004151:Dipeptides; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011091:Polyesters; D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014443:Tyrosine