title: Compositional control of higher order assembly using synthetic collagen peptides.
abstract: We present the case of a two-component collagen peptide hydrogel that self-assembles through noncovalent electrostatic interactions. Natural collagen materials, such as those of connective tissue or the basement membrane, assemble in a hierarchic fashion. Similarly, the synthetic peptides presented here proceed from monomer to trimer to fiber and, finally, to a hydrogel. By varying stoichiometry and concentration, we are able to dissect the stages of higher order assembly. Insight gained from this study will improve the molecular design of biomimetic materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ and the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Raymond S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Qingrong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003094:Collagen