dl-Polyalanine as a PEG-Free Thermogel

ACS Macro Lett. 2022 Jun 21;11(6):825-829. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00267. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Abstract

Thermogelling behavior of aqueous polymer solutions comes from the delicate balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties of the polymer. Typically, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been used as a hydrophilic block in most thermogels reported to date. However, recent papers have suggested the potential immunogenicity of PEG-conjugated compounds. Here, we report that aqueous solutions of dl-polyalanine (DL-PA) with a specific molecular weight can exhibit thermogelling behavior. In particular, DL-PA with a molecular weight (Mn) of 6690 Da, DL-PA67, exhibited sol-to-gel transition at the physiologically important temperature range of 30-40 °C. 1H NMR and FTIR data indicated that the mechanism of thermogelation is related to dehydration and conformational changes of DL-PA67 from random coil to β-sheet structures. Subcutaneous injection of an aqueous DL-PA67 solution into rats confirmed the gel formation and its histocompatibility with mild tissue irritation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Peptides* / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols* / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • Water
  • polyalanine
  • Polyethylene Glycols