Protein-Cross-Linked Triple-Responsive Polymer Networks Based on Molecular Recognition

ACS Macro Lett. 2016 Nov 15;5(11):1222-1226. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00750. Epub 2016 Oct 18.

Abstract

Hydrogels containing protein components are a type of promising biomaterial. In this paper, we designed triple-responsive polymer-protein networks based on molecular recognition. Reduced bovine serum albumin (BSA) was modified with multiple β-cyclodextrin (βCD) by thiol-disulfide exchange reaction. The βCD-modified BSA was added into the aqueous solution of acrylamide copolymer with pendant adamantyl groups, resulting in the formation of polymer-protein network structures. The assembled polymer networks show triple-responsive behaviors upon treatment with trypsin, reduced glutathione, or native βCD. The network structures may find applications in tissue engineering and drug controlled release.