Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment

DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100598

Authors: Yichen Yuan (Queen Mary University of London; Zhejiang Lab) , Yejiao Shi (Queen Mary University of London; Shanghai University) , Jayati Banerjee (Queen Mary University of London) , Amin Sadeghpour Dilmaghani (University of Leeds) , Helena S. Azevedo (Queen Mary University of London; Universidade Do Porto)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials Today Bio , VOL 12

State: Published (Approved)
Published: March 2023
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 25037

Abstract: The use of synthetic extracellular matrices (ECMs) in fundamental in vitro cell culture studies has been instrumental for investigating the interplay between cells and matrix components. To provide cells with a more native environment in vitro, it is desirable to design matrices that are biomimetic and emulate compositional and structural features of natural ECMs. Here, the supramolecular fabrication of peptide-hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels is presented as promising ECM surrogates, combining HA and rationally designed cationic amphipatic peptides [(KI)nK, lysine (K), isoleucine (I), n = 2–6] whose mechanical properties and microstructure are tunable by the peptide sequence. (KI)nK peptides adopt β-sheet configuration and self-assemble into filamentous nanostructures triggered by pH or ionic strength. The self-assembly propensity of (KI)nK peptides increases with the sequence length, forming single phase hydrogels (shorter peptides) or with phase separation (longer peptides) in presence of the anionic polyelectrolyte HA through electrostatic complexations. The gel phase formed in (KI)nK-HA complexes exhibits viscoelastic behavior and triggers the formation of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids which disassemble over the time. It is anticipated that these (KI)nK-HA hydrogels with tunable physical and biochemical properties offer a promising platform for in vitro applications and in stem cell therapy.

Journal Keywords: Amphipathic peptides; Self-assembly; Hyaluronan; Supramolecular structured hydrogels; Stem cell spheroids

Diamond Keywords: Regenerative Medicine

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Chemistry, Medicine


Instruments: I22-Small angle scattering & Diffraction

Added On: 06/03/2023 10:48

Discipline Tags:

Biomaterials Biochemistry Chemistry Materials Science Chemical Engineering Engineering & Technology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Scattering Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)