title: A photo-degradable supramolecular hydrogel for selective delivery of microRNA into 3D-cultured cells.
abstract: Multi-functional supramolecular hydrogels have emerged as smart biomaterials for diverse biomedical applications. Here we report a multi-functional supramolecular hydrogel formed by the conjugate of the bioactive GRGDS peptide with biaryltetrazole that is the substrate of photo-click reaction. The hydrogel was used as a biocompatible matrix to encapsulate live cells for 3D culture. The presence of the RGD epitope in the hydrogelator enhanced the interaction of the nanofiber with integrin over-expressing cells, which resulted in the selective enhancement in the miRNA delivery into the encapsulated U87 cells. The intramolecular photo-click reaction of the biaryltetrazole moiety in the hydrogelator leads to a sensitive photo-response of the hydrogel, which allowed photo-degradation of the hydrogel for release of the encapsulated live cells for further bio-assay of the intracellular species.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. njuzy@nju.edu.cn jinboli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhengquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. njuzy@nju.edu.cn jinboli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qikun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Wencui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Adnan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kadi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. njuzy@nju.edu.cn jinboli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Sciences, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. njuzy@nju.edu.cn jinboli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8858-8894
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D060327:Solid-Phase Synthesis Techniques; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009842:Oligopeptides; D013777:Tetrazoles; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; C049554:glycyl-arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine