Bioinspired photo-crosslinkable self-assembling peptides with pH-switchable "on-off" luminescence
Raffaele Pugliese1,2, Monica Montuori3, Fabrizio Gelain1,4
1Tissue Engineering Unit, Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies-ISBReMIT, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo FG Italy f.gelain@css-mendel.it.
Nanoscale Advances
|September 22, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a new photo-cross-linking method for self-assembling peptides (SAPs) using tyrosine. This creates stable, fluorescent, and mechanically robust peptide hydrogels for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Peptide self-assembly (SAPs) shows promise but lacks mechanical stability and solvent resistance due to reliance on non-covalent interactions.
- Existing SAPs are limited in practical applications due to poor mechanical properties and susceptibility to degradation.
- Need for advanced cross-linking strategies to enhance SAP performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in situ photo-cross-linking method for tyrosine-containing SAPs.
- To enhance the mechanical stability, fluorescence properties, and pH responsiveness of SAP hydrogels.
- To explore the potential of these novel hydrogels in biomedical and advanced material applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a tyrosine-containing LDLK12 SAP.
- Employed a ruthenium-complex-catalyzed photo-cross-linking reaction upon UV light irradiation.
- Investigated dityrosine cross-linking formation kinetics, fluorescence stability, pH-switchable luminescence, and mechanical properties (storage modulus).
Main Results:
- Stable dityrosine cross-linking formed within 5 minutes, peaking at 1 hour of UV irradiation.
- Ruthenium complex incorporation enhanced fluorescence stability up to 42 °C.
- Achieved enhanced mechanical stability (storage modulus of ~26 kPa) and pH-tunable "off-on-off-on" luminescence.
- Formation of a densely entangled fibrous network via dityrosine linkages.
Conclusions:
- Ruthenium-mediated photo-cross-linking of tyrosine-containing SAPs creates highly stable and functional nanomaterials.
- The developed hydrogels exhibit superior mechanical strength, stable fluorescence, and switchable luminescence.
- These advanced SAP hydrogels hold significant potential for applications in biomedical imaging, pH sensing, photonics, soft electronics, and bioprinting.
