Hybrid Hydrogels Self‐Assembled from HPMA Copolymers Containing Peptide Grafts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: 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. magnified image