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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Tunable, Injectable Hydrogels Based on Peptide-Cross-Linked, Cyclized Polymer Nanoparticles for Neural Progenitor
Tianyu Zhao1, Drew L Sellers1,2, Yilong Cheng1
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
Abstract:
A PEG-based cyclized vinyl polymer was synthesized via one-step RAFT polymerization and used as a precursor of injectable hydrogels. Dithiol linkers including laminin-derived peptides containing IKVAV and YIGSR sequences and DTT were used for gelation. Fast and adjustable gelation rate was achieved through nucleophile-initiated thiol-Michael reaction under physiological conditions. Low swelling ratio and moderate degradation rate of the formed hydrogels were observed. 3D encapsulation of neural progenitor cells in the synthetic hydrogel showed good cell viability over 8 days. The long-term cell survival and proliferation were promoted by the introduction of laminin-derived peptides. This hydrogel platform based on peptide-cross-linked, cyclized vinyl polymers can be used as a universal hydrogel template for 3D cell encapsulation.
