Responsive biomimetic networks from polyisocyanopeptide hydrogels

Abstract

Responsive hydrogels applied in the biomedical area show great potential as synthetic extracellular matrix mimics and as host medium for cell growth. The hydrogels often lack the characteristic mechanical properties that are typically seen for natural gels. Here, we demonstrate the unique responsive and mechanical properties of hydrogels based on oligo(ethylene glycol) functionalized polyisocyanopeptides. These stiff helical polymers form gels upon warming at concentrations as low as 0.006 %-wt polymer, with materials properties almost identical to those of their intermediate filaments, a class of cytoskeletal proteins. Using a combination of macroscopic rheology and molecular force microscopy the hierarchical relationship between the macroscopic behaviour of theses peptide mimics has been correlated with the molecular parameters.

Therapeutic nanoworms: towards novel synthetic dendritic cells for immunotherapy

“…[28][29][30] These polymers can be up to 2 mm long and exhibit a well-dened stereoregularity 31 as well as a controlled stiffness that can be tuned between persistence lengths (L P ) of 5 nm to 200 nm. 26,32 Since in principle every individual monomer can be substituted with a functional unit, a versatile synthon for the design of multivalent lamentous sDCs is easily obtained (Fig. 2).…”

Reinforcement of hydrogels using three-dimensionally printed microfibres

“…This is based on the principle that cells in native tissues are responsive to different types of mechanical stresses, such as compression, tension and shear [10][11][12] . These properties, for example stiffness, can be improved by increasing the hydrogel polymer concentration or crosslink density 2,3,13 or by the formation of tissue-specific extracellular matrix before implantation of the graft 2,14,15 .…”

Thermal Properties of Methyl Ester-Containing Poly(2-oxazoline)s

“…One of the best-characterized thermoresponsive polymers is poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm), which displays a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of 32˝C, just below body temperature [2][3][4][5]. Other classes of thermoresponsive polymers that have emerged in recent years are for example poly(oligo ethylene glycol acrylate)s [2,6], polyisocyanopeptides grafted with oligo(ethylene glycol) side chains [7][8][9], poly(2-oxazine)s [10] and poly(2-oxazoline)s [3,5,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”