Haritha Asokan Sheeja / Chemistry & Biochemistry / Faculty Mentor: He Dong
Peptide-based hydrogels are increasingly recognized in biomedical research for their advantageous properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and adjustable hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity. Nonetheless, the inability of numerous self-assembling peptides to generate sufficiently robust hydrogels for biomedical use remains a hurdle. This study introduces a novel strategy employing the synthesis of peptide-PEG conjugates to tackle this limitation and explores their potential for forming hydrogels. The Peptide-PEG hydrogel comprises dual networks: the first network arises from peptide self-assembly into a β-sheet secondary structure, while the second network forms through covalent bonding between peptides and a 4-arm PEG utilizing N-hydroxysuccinimide chemistry. Our investigation highlights the efficacy of this methodology with other lysine-rich peptide sequences. Additionally, upon incorporation of antimicrobial peptides, the hydrogel exhibits potent bacterial killing capabilities with minimal cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. This innovative approach holds promise for the development of advanced peptide-polymer hydrogel materials, offering enhanced performance in various biomedical applications.
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