title: β-hairpin peptide hydrogels for package delivery.
abstract: The underlying challenge of drug delivery is the safe, controlled transport of a supply of therapeutic agent to its intended location at its effective dose. New and expanding solutions to payload delivery are being discovered in the field of hydrogels. Hydrogels are highly hydrated polymer networks that vary greatly depending on the underlying molecular structure. The subgroup of hydrogels that will be the focus of this chapter is the β-hairpin peptide hydrogel. These peptide-based materials are formed through a molecular self-assembly mechanism that only occurs after desired triggering of intramolecular peptide folding. Once folded, the β-hairpins assemble intermolecularly into a nanofibrillar network. The physical properties of the hydrogel network and its peptide foundation result in advantageous material properties which can be used for multiple biomedical applications including drug delivery. As a shear thinning solid that is easily injectable, cytocompatible, customizable, and well characterized, β-hairpin hydrogels are an exciting candidate as a drug delivery vehicle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Worthington
authors.affiliation: Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langhans
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA. Electronic address: pochan@udel.edu.
authors.forename: Darrin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pochan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017510:Protein Folding
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: Biomaterial; Cell scaffolding; Drug encapsulation; Hydrogel; Peptide; Self assembly