pH-Responsive Peptide Supramolecular Hydrogels with Antibacterial Activity

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Smart hydrogels are gaining attention for diverse applications due to their responsive nature.
• Peptide amphiphiles offer tunable self-assembly properties for advanced material design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel cationic peptide amphiphiles capable of self-assembling into hydrogels.
• To investigate the influence of lysine residues and sodium alginate on hydrogel properties.
• To evaluate the potential of these hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of cationic peptide amphiphiles via ring-opening polymerization (ROP).
• Post-modification strategies for hydrogel formation.
• Incorporation of sodium alginate (SA) to enhance rheological performance.
• Assessment of pH-dependent self-assembly and gelation behavior.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of cationic peptide amphiphiles that form hydrogels.
• Lysine incorporation modulated fibril formation and improved gelation.
• Sodium alginate enhanced the rheological properties of the hydrogels.
• The hydrogels demonstrated pH-dependent self-assembly and gelation.

Conclusions:

• The developed hybrid peptide hydrogels are pH-responsive and suitable for biomedical applications.
• The hydrogels exhibit inherent antibacterial activity.
• This work presents a promising platform for designing advanced smart hydrogel materials.