title: Genipin-cross-linked poly(L-lysine)-based hydrogels: synthesis, characterization, and drug encapsulation.
abstract: Genipin-cross-linked hydrogels composed of biodegradable and pH-sensitive cationic poly(L-lysine) (PLL), poly(L-lysine)-block-poly(L-alanine) (PLL-b-PLAla), and poly(L-lysine)-block-polyglycine (PLL-b-PGly) polypeptides were synthesized, characterized, and used as carriers for drug delivery. These polypeptide hydrogels can respond to pH-stimulus and their gelling and mechanical properties, degradation rate, and drug release behavior can be tuned by varying polypeptide composition and cross-linking degree. Comparing with natural polymers, the synthetic polypeptides with well-defined chain length and composition can warrant the preparation of the hydrogels with tunable properties to meet the criteria for specific biomedical applications. These hydrogels composed of natural building blocks exhibited good cell compatibility and enzyme degradability and can support cell attachment/proliferation. The evaluation of these hydrogels for in vitro drug release revealed that the controlled release profile was a biphasic pattern with a mild burst release and a moderate release rate thereafter, suggesting the drug molecules were encapsulated inside the gel matrix. With the versatility of polymer chemistry and conjugation of functional moieties, it is expected these hydrogels can be useful for biomedical applications such as polymer therapeutics and tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Steven S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ping-Lun
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Shan
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Tien
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan. Electronic address: jsjan@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jeng-Shiung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001963:Bromelains / Q000378:metabolism; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005612:Freeze Drying; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011107:Polylysine / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D039823:Iridoids; D010455:Peptides; D011107:Polylysine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D001963:Bromelains; C007834:genipin
keywords: Drug delivery; Genipin; Hydrogel; Polypeptide; pH-sensitive