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Photoinduced Hydrogel-Forming Caged Peptides with Improved Solubility
Kata N Enyedi1,2, Bettina Basa1,2, Gábor Mező1,2
1Faculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
ACS Omega
|February 19, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed a caged self-assembling peptide (EAK16-II) with improved solubility using a photosensitive protecting group. The resulting hydrogel supports melanoma cell viability and aggregation, offering a controllable biomaterial alternative.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterial Science
- Peptide Self-Assembly
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Self-assembling peptides offer tunable properties and biocompatibility for biomaterials.
- Poor solubility and challenging handling limit the application of native self-assembling peptides.
- Controlling peptide self-assembly is crucial for developing advanced biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a cage peptide with precise control over self-assembly.
- To enhance the solubility and handling of self-assembling peptides.
- To investigate the use of photosensitive protecting groups for controlled peptide assembly.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a caged EAK16-II peptide derivative using a photosensitive p-hydroxy-phenacyl (pHP) protecting group.
- Spectroscopic analysis to confirm peptide structure and properties.
- In vitro studies using A2058 melanoma cells to assess hydrogel formation, cell viability, and aggregation.
Main Results:
- The caged-EAK16-II peptide exhibited significantly improved solubility compared to the native peptide.
- Photolysis of the caged peptide successfully induced hydrogel formation.
- The resulting hydrogel supported comparable melanoma cell viability and aggregation to native EAK16-II hydrogels.
Conclusions:
- Temporally masking amino acid side chains with photosensitive groups effectively controls peptide self-assembly.
- Caged self-assembling peptides offer a promising strategy to overcome solubility and handling challenges.
- This approach enables the development of controllable, biocompatible hydrogels for biomedical applications.
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