Application of Laser Scanning Microscopy in Dermatology and Cutaneous Physiology

Luminescent supramolecular hydrogels from a tripeptide and nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots

“…In this study, we report for the first time two different protocols for NCND incorporation into supramolecular hydrogels composed of an uncapped tripeptide, D Leu-Phe-Phe, and characterize the system by rheometry, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Given that this tripeptide is capable of forming a hydrogel with mild antimicrobial activity and a lack of cytotoxicity in vitro [ 26 ], this new system could be valuable for the development of wound healing applications [ 28 ], whereby luminescence could be advantageous to visually track the presence of the hydrogel and the ability of its components to penetrate through the derma [ 29 ]. In addition, peptide hydrogels based on the Phe-Phe motif [ 30 – 31 ] and bearing unnatural D-amino acids [ 32 – 33 ] are attractive biomaterials that may display higher durability relative to traditional peptide counterparts, in addition to better biocompatibility and the possibility to incorporate bioactive motifs relative to non-peptide hydrogels.…”