Mechanical characteristics of beta sheet-forming peptide hydrogels are dependent on peptide sequence, concentration and buffer composition. Issue 3 (14th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koch, Franziska; Müller, Michael; König, Finja; Meyer, Nina; Gattlen, Jasmin; Pieles, Uwe; Peters, Kirsten; Kreikemeyer, Bernd; Mathes, Stephanie; Saxer, Sina
• Is Part Of: Royal Society open science. Volume 5:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-03-14
• Subjects: self-assembling peptides (SAP) -- SAP hydrogel stiffness -- nanofibrillar architecture -- SAP hydrogel degradability; Science -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171562
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-5703

Abstract

Abstract : Self-assembling peptide hydrogels can be modified regarding their biodegradability, their chemical and mechanical properties and their nanofibrillar structure. Thus, self-assembling peptide hydrogels might be suitable scaffolds for regenerative therapies and tissue engineering. Owing to the use of various peptide concentrations and buffer compositions, the self-assembling peptide hydrogels might be influenced regarding their mechanical characteristics. Therefore, the mechanical properties and stability of a set of self-assembling peptide hydrogels, consisting of 11 amino acids, made from four beta sheet self-assembling peptides in various peptide concentrations and buffer compositions were studied. The formed self-assembling peptide hydrogels exhibited stiffnesses ranging from 0.6 to 205 kPa. The hydrogel stiffness was mostly affected by peptide sequence followed by peptide concentration and buffer composition. All self-assembling peptide hydrogels examined provided a nanofibrillar network formation. A maximum self-assembling peptide hydrogel dissolution of 20% was observed for different buffer solutions after 7 days. The stability regarding enzymatic and bacterial digestion showed less degradation in comparison to the self-assembling peptide hydrogel dissolution rate in buffer. The tested set of self-assembling peptide hydrogels were able to form stable scaffolds and provided a broad spectrum of tissue-specific stiffnesses that are suitable for a regenerative therapy.