Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Engineering nanoparticle surface chemistry for antigen-presenting cell targeting improves specificity and safety of TLR3 agonist cancer immunotherapy.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Polyelectrolyte nanoparticles enable intracellular delivery of STING protein fragments for ovarian cancer immunotherapy.

Materials today. Bio·2026
Same author

A multivalent peptide-polymer conjugate material mimics STING to therapeutically activate innate immune signaling.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

PEG chains modulate electrostatic interactions between PAMAM and articular cartilage.

Biomaterials·2026
Same author

Leveraging tissue-resident memory T cells for non-invasive immune monitoring via microneedle skin patches.

Nature biomedical engineering·2026
Same author

Subcellular nanoparticle trafficking investigated with label-free, live cell imaging.

Nanoscale horizons·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Construction of Modular Hydrogel Sheets for Micropatterned Macro-scaled 3D Cellular Architecture
10:55

Construction of Modular Hydrogel Sheets for Micropatterned Macro-scaled 3D Cellular Architecture

Published on: January 11, 2016

10.8K

Uncharged Helical Modular Polypeptide Hydrogels for Cellular Scaffolds.

Caroline C Ahrens1, M Elizabeth Welch1, Linda G Griffith1

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, ‡Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, §Department of Biological Engineering, and ∥Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts United States.

Biomacromolecules
|October 14, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Grafted synthetic polypeptides, poly(γ-propargyl-l-glutamate) (PPLG), improve synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels. These PPLG-PEG hydrogels enhance cell attachment and reduce swelling dependency, showing promise for tissue engineering.

More Related Videos

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications
08:50

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Published on: August 4, 2017

7.3K
The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
09:30

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications

Published on: October 7, 2016

12.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Construction of Modular Hydrogel Sheets for Micropatterned Macro-scaled 3D Cellular Architecture
10:55

Construction of Modular Hydrogel Sheets for Micropatterned Macro-scaled 3D Cellular Architecture

Published on: January 11, 2016

10.8K
Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications
08:50

Easy Manipulation of Architectures in Protein-based Hydrogels for Cell Culture Applications

Published on: August 4, 2017

7.3K
The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
09:30

The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications

Published on: October 7, 2016

12.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels are crucial for tissue engineering.
  • Grafted synthetic polypeptides offer tunable biophysical properties for advanced hydrogels.
  • Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-only hydrogels have limitations in swelling and cell interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel synthetic hydrogels by grafting polypeptides onto PEG macromers.
  • To investigate the impact of poly(γ-propargyl-l-glutamate) (PPLG) incorporation on hydrogel properties.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of these PPLG-containing hydrogels in supporting human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) attachment.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of PPLG macromers by grafting PEG chains with varying end groups.
  • Functionalization of PPLG macromers with RGD cell attachment motifs.
  • Creation of synthetic hydrogels via cross-linking PPLG macromers with 4-arm PEG star molecules.
  • Assessment of hydrogel swelling behavior as a function of cross-link density.
  • Evaluation of hMSC attachment on PPLG-containing hydrogels compared to PEG-only hydrogels.

Main Results:

  • PPLG-containing hydrogels exhibited significantly reduced swelling dependence on cross-link density compared to PEG-only hydrogels.
  • PPLG-containing hydrogels maintained an α-helical chain conformation.
  • These hydrogels demonstrated superior hMSC attachment efficiency for a given RGD concentration compared to standard PEG hydrogels.
  • The incorporation of PPLG broadened the achievable biophysical properties of synthetic ECM hydrogels.

Conclusions:

  • Grafted PPLG significantly enhances the performance of synthetic PEG hydrogels for ECM applications.
  • PPLG-containing hydrogels offer improved control over swelling and superior cell adhesion properties.
  • These novel hydrogels hold substantial potential for broad applications in synthetic ECM and regenerative medicine.