Physiologically relevant pH- and temperature-responsive polypeptide hydrogels with adhesive properties. Issue 19 (26th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Yingge; Li, Dong; Ding, Junfeng; He, Chaoliang; Chen, Xuesi
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 12:Issue 19(2021)
• Page Start: 2832
• Page End: 2839
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/d1py00290b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : Physiologically relevant pH- and temperature-responsive polypeptide hydrogels with adhesive properties were developed and characterized. Abstract : Physiologically relevant pH- and temperature-responsive polypeptide biomaterials have attracted increasing attention due to their versatile morphologies and functions responding to ambient changes. Herein, we prepare a series of polypeptide hydrogels via a ring-opening polymerization and post-modification strategy, which show tunable gelation temperature and pH, reversible sol–gel phase transition and adhesive properties. This approach is mainly based on the self-assembly of an amphiphilic polymer employing poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(l -glutamic acid) derivatives as temperature and pH responsive segments, respectively. We experimentally demonstrate that the temperature and pH responsiveness is a result of comprehensive effects of the variation of intermolecular interactions, electrostatic repulsion and secondary structures. The hydrogel is degradable and has good biocompatibility in vivo . Moreover, the hydrogel showed adhesive properties to a wide range of materials. This study provides a new class of stimuli-responsive hydrogels that respond to physiologically relevant pH and temperature and exhibit unique adhesive properties, as well as the underlying gelation mechanism.