Title | Uncharged Helical Modular Polypeptide Hydrogels for Cellular Scaffolds. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Ahrens, CC, M Welch, E, Griffith, LG, Hammond, PT |
Journal | Biomacromolecules |
Volume | 16 |
Issue | 12 |
Pagination | 3774-83 |
Date Published | 2015 Dec 14 |
ISSN | 1526-4602 |
Abstract | Grafted synthetic polypeptides hold appeal for extending the range of biophysical properties achievable in synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels. Here, N-carboxyanhydride polypeptide, poly(γ-propargyl-l-glutamate) (PPLG) macromers were generated by fully grafting the "clickable" side chains with mixtures of short polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains terminated with inert (-OH) or reactive (maleimide and/or norbornene) groups, then reacting a fraction of these groups with an RGD cell attachment motif. A panel of synthetic hydrogels was then created by cross-linking the PPLG macromers with a 4-arm PEG star molecule. Compared to well-established PEG-only hydrogels, gels containing PPLG exhibited dramatically less dependence on swelling as a function of cross-link density. Further, PPLG-containing gels, which retain an α-helical chain conformation, were more effective than standard PEG gels in fostering attachment of a human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) line for a given concentration of RGD in the gel. These favorable properties of PPLG-containing PEG hydrogels suggest they may find broad use in synthetic ECM. |
DOI | 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01076 |
Alternate Journal | Biomacromolecules |
PubMed ID | 26461932 |
Grant List | R01 EB010246-03 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States U54-CA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States |