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Updated: May 16, 2026

Preparation of Mechanically Stable Self-Assembled Peptides Hydrogels
Published on: September 6, 2024
The Effect of Ionic Strength on the Mechanical, Structural and Transport Properties of Peptide Hydrogels
Yue Feng1, Marc Taraban, Y Bruce Yu
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. ; Tel: 401 706 7514.
Abstract:
It is found that the elastic modulus of a peptide hydrogel increases linearly with the logarithm of its ionic strength. This result indicates that the elastic modulus of this class of hydrogels can be tuned by the ionic strength in a highly predictable manner. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies reveal that higher ionic strength leads to thinner but more rigid peptide fibers that are packed more densely. The self-diffusion coefficient of small molecules inside the hydrogel decrease linearly with its ionic strength, but this decrease is mainly a salt effect rather than diffusion barriers imposed by the hydrogel matrix.
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