Peptide Amphiphile Hydrogels Based on Homoternary Cucurbit[8]uril Host-Guest Complexes

Redondo-Gómez, Carlos; Padilla-Lopátegui, Soraya; Mata, Alvaro; Azevedo, Helena S.

Abstract

Supramolecular hydrogels based on peptide amphiphiles (PAs) are promising materials for tissue engineering and model extracellular matrixes for biological studies. While PA hydrogels are conventionally formed via electrostatic screening, new hydrogelation mechanisms might help to improve the design and functionality of these materials. Here, we present a host–guest-mediated PA hydrogelation method that relies on the formation of a host–guest homoternary complex with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and aromatic amino-acid-bearing PA nanofibers. As a result of the host–guest cross-linking between PA nanofibers, hierarchical morphologies and increased stiffness were found when host–guest-mediated PA hydrogels were compared to their ion-based equivalents. Additionally, both families of hydrogels exhibited similar biocompatibilities. These results demonstrate that CB[8]-mediated hydrogelation can be used as an alternative cross-linking method to upgrade the design of PA materials and extend their biomedical applications.

Citation

Redondo-Gómez, C., Padilla-Lopátegui, S., Mata, A., & Azevedo, H. S. (2022). Peptide Amphiphile Hydrogels Based on Homoternary Cucurbit[8]uril Host-Guest Complexes. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 33(1), 111-120. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00441

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 16, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 19, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 17, 2022
• Journal: Bioconjugate Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 1043-1802
• Electronic ISSN: 1520-4812
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 111-120
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00441
• Keywords: Organic Chemistry; Pharmaceutical Science; Pharmacology; Biomedical Engineering; Bioengineering; Biotechnology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7225442
• Publisher URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00441
• Additional Information: This document is the unedited Author’s version of a Submitted Work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Bioconjugate Chemistry, copyright ©2021 American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00441.