title: Functional Supramolecular Polymers: A Fluorescent Microfibrous Network in a Supramolecular Hydrogel for High-Contrast Live Cell-Material Imaging in 3D Environments.
abstract: A new bottom-up strategy based on aromatic peptide amphiphile is developed for a high-contrast visualization of 3D live cell-material imaging-something that has been difficult to achieve previously because of the problems associated with the diffraction of light by the nanosized peptide materials and the aggregation-caused quenching of aggregated π-conjugated fluorophores in the nanostructures. This study reports an example of a novel supramolecular hydrogelator, naphthaleneimide-phenylalanine (NI-Phe), which forms a self-supporting hydrogel displaying a unique microfibrous network and promising aggregation-induced emission characteristics at pH 7.4. The storage modulus of the NI-Phe gel supports the mass of a cell for 3D cell culturing. This work illustrates a new dopant-free supramolecular approach, complementary to well-established doping procedures that should facilitate the development of live cell imaging in 3D scaffolding materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-Yi
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Tang
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dion Tzu-Huan
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Integrative Stem Cell Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Integrative Stem Cell Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Chieh
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan. hclin45@nctu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsin-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
keywords: aggregation-induced emission; cell imaging; hydrogels; self-assembly; supramolecular polymers