Modular StarPEG-Heparin Gels with Bifunctional Peptide Linkers

Mikhail V Tsurkan; Karolina Chwalek; Kandice R Levental; Uwe Freudenberg; Carsten Werner

doi:10.1002/marc.201000155

Modular StarPEG-Heparin Gels with Bifunctional Peptide Linkers

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2010 Sep 1;31(17):1529-33. doi: 10.1002/marc.201000155. Epub 2010 Aug 16.

Authors

Mikhail V Tsurkan¹, Karolina Chwalek, Kandice R Levental, Uwe Freudenberg, Carsten Werner

Affiliation

¹ Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.

PMID: 21567562
DOI: 10.1002/marc.201000155

Abstract

Cell responsive materials are instrumental to regenerative therapies. Here, we report about a novel biohybrid hydrogel that consists of heparin and peptide-conjugated star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol), crosslinked by peptide units that combine matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) sensitivity and cell adhesive modules. Taking advantage of the high affinity of vascular endothelial growth factor to heparin, we illustrate the applicability of our hydrogels as a novel system that is supportive of cellular remodeling and three-dimensional migration of human endothelial cells.