Hybrid hydrogels self-assembled from HPMA copolymers containing peptide grafts

Macromol Biosci. 2006 Mar 14;6(3):201-9. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200500208.

Abstract

Graft copolymers were designed that self-assemble into hydrogels mediated by the interaction of coiled-coil peptide domains. A linear hydrophilic polymer of HPMA was chosen as the backbone, and coiled-coil forming peptides, covalently attached to the backbone, formed the grafts. Microrheology was used to evaluate the self-assembly of graft copolymers into hydrogels. The results revealed that the length and the number of coiled-coil grafts per chain had a significant influence on the gelation process. At least 4 heptads were needed to achieve the association of graft copolymers into hydrogels. CD spectra of the copolymer containing 5 heptad grafts further suggested that coiled-coil formation may contribute to the self-assembly. Gelation of graft copolymers containing CC4 peptides indicated that a threshold amount of grafts per macromolecule is needed to form a three-dimensional structure. These studies demonstrated a potential of the graft copolymers to create self-assembling hydrogels with desirable and controllable structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Methacrylates / chemical synthesis*
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Models, Chemical
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rheology

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Methacrylates
  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • hydroxypropyl methacrylate