Secondary Structure-Driven Hydrogelation Using Foldable Telechelic Polymer-Peptide Conjugates

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2018 Sep;39(17):e1800459. doi: 10.1002/marc.201800459. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Abstract

The synthesis of ABA and ABA' triblock polyethylene glycol-and polysarcosine-peptide conjugates is reported. The A/A' peptides are based on phenylalanine(F)-histidine(H) pentapeptide sequences FHFHF, which promote pH-switchable β-sheet self-assembly into nanorods in water. Only parallel β-sheet-driven folding and intermolecular assembly using ABA triblock polymer-peptide conjugates leads to interstrand cross-linking and hydrogelation, highlighting the impact of supramolecular interactions-directed structure formation at the nano- and mesoscopic level.

Keywords: hydrogels; peptide conjugation; stimulus-responsive; supramolecular polymers; β-sheets.

MeSH terms

  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Peptides
  • Polymers