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Rijns L, Baker MB, Dankers PYW. Using Chemistry To Recreate the Complexity of the Extracellular Matrix: Guidelines for Supramolecular Hydrogel-Cell Interactions. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17539-17558. [PMID: 38888174 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking materials in regenerative medicine. Here, we briefly describe current state-of-the-art of ECM-mimicking hydrogels, ranging from natural to hybrid to completely synthetic versions, giving the prelude to the importance of supramolecular interactions to make true ECM mimics. The potential of supramolecular interactions to create ECM mimics for cell culture is illustrated through a focus on two different supramolecular hydrogel systems, both developed in our laboratories. We use some recent, significant findings to present important design principles underlying the cell-material interaction. To achieve cell spreading, we propose that slow molecular dynamics (monomer exchange within fibers) is crucial to ensure the robust incorporation of cell adhesion ligands within supramolecular fibers. Slow bulk dynamics (stress-relaxation─fiber rearrangements, τ1/2 ≈ 1000 s) is required to achieve cell spreading in soft gels (<1 kPa), while gel stiffness overrules dynamics in stiffer gels. Importantly, this resonates with the findings of others which specialize in different material types: cell spreading is impaired in case substrate relaxation occurs faster than clutch binding and focal adhesion lifetime. We conclude with discussing considerations and limitations of the supramolecular approach as well as provide a forward thinking perspective to further understand supramolecular hydrogel-cell interactions. Future work may utilize the presented guidelines underlying cell-material interactions to not only arrive at the next generation of ECM-mimicking hydrogels but also advance other fields, such as bioelectronics, opening up new opportunities for innovative applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rijns
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y W Dankers
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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2
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VandenBerg MA, Xian S, Xiang Y, Webber MJ. Dynamic-Covalent Crosslinking of Benzenetricarboxamide-Phenylboronate Conjugates. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300001. [PMID: 36786665 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
In an effort to augment the function of supramolecular biomaterials, recent efforts have explored the creation of hybrid materials that couple supramolecular and covalent components. Here, the benzenetricarboxamide (BTA) supramolecular polymer motif is modified to present a phenylboronic acid (PBA) in order to promote the crosslinking of 1D BTA stacks by PBA-diol dynamic-covalent bonds through the addition of a multi-arm diol-bearing crosslinker. Interestingly, the combination of these two motifs serves to frustrate the resulting assembly process, yielding hydrogels with worse mechanical properties than those prepared without the multi-arm diol crosslinker. Both systems with and without the crosslinker do, however, respond to the presence of a physiological level of glucose with a reduction in their mechanical integrity; repulsive electrostatic interactions in the BTA stacks occur in both cases upon glucose binding, with added competition from glucose with PBA-diol bonds amplifying glucose response in the hybrid material. Accordingly, the present results point to an unexpected outcome of reduced hydrogel mechanics, yet increased glucose response, when two disparate dynamic motifs of BTA supramolecular polymerization and PBA-diol crosslinking are combined, offering a vision for future preparation of glucose-responsive supramolecular biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 205 McCourtney Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Sijie Xian
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 205 McCourtney Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Yuanhui Xiang
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 205 McCourtney Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, 205 McCourtney Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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3
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Dellatolas I, Bantawa M, Damerau B, Guo M, Divoux T, Del Gado E, Bischofberger I. Local Mechanism Governs Global Reinforcement of Nanofiller-Hydrogel Composites. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20939-20948. [PMID: 37906739 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
We reveal the mechanism for the strong reinforcement of attractive nanofiller-hydrogel composites. Measuring the linear viscoelastic properties of hydrogels containing filler nanoparticles, we show that a significant increase of the modulus can be achieved at unexpectedly low volume fractions of nanofillers when the filler-hydrogel interactions are attractive. Using three-dimensional numerical simulations, we identify a general microscopic mechanism for the reinforcement, common to hydrogel matrices of different compositions and concentrations and containing nanofillers of varying sizes. The attractive interactions induce a local increase in the gel density around the nanofillers. The effective fillers, composed of the nanofillers and the densified regions around them, assemble into a percolated network, which constrains the gel displacement and enhances the stress coupling throughout the system. A global reinforcement of the composite is induced as the stresses become strongly coupled. This physical mechanism of reinforcement, which relies only on attractive filler-matrix interactions, provides design strategies for versatile composites that combine low nanofiller fractions with an enhanced mechanical strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ippolyti Dellatolas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Minaspi Bantawa
- Department of Physics and Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Brian Damerau
- Department of Physics and Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Ming Guo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Thibaut Divoux
- ENSL, CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique, F-69342 Lyon, France
- MultiScale Material Science for Energy and Environment, UMI 3466, CNRS-MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Emanuela Del Gado
- Department of Physics and Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Irmgard Bischofberger
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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4
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Hafeez S, Aldana AA, Duimel H, Ruiter FAA, Decarli MC, Lapointe V, van Blitterswijk C, Moroni L, Baker MB. Molecular Tuning of a Benzene-1,3,5-Tricarboxamide Supramolecular Fibrous Hydrogel Enables Control over Viscoelasticity and Creates Tunable ECM-Mimetic Hydrogels and Bioinks. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2207053. [PMID: 36858040 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Traditional synthetic covalent hydrogels lack the native tissue dynamics and hierarchical fibrous structure found in the extracellular matrix (ECM). These dynamics and fibrous nanostructures are imperative in obtaining the correct cell/material interactions. Consequently, the challenge to engineer functional dynamics in a fibrous hydrogel and recapitulate native ECM properties remains a bottle-neck to biomimetic hydrogel environments. Here, the molecular tuning of a supramolecular benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) hydrogelator via simple modulation of hydrophobic substituents is reported. This tuning results in fibrous hydrogels with accessible viscoelasticity over 5 orders of magnitude, while maintaining a constant equilibrium storage modulus. BTA hydrogelators are created with systematic variations in the number of hydrophobic carbon atoms, and this is observed to control the viscoelasticity and stress-relaxation timescales in a logarithmic fashion. Some of these BTA hydrogels are shear-thinning, self-healing, extrudable, and injectable, and can be 3D printed into multiple layers. These hydrogels show high cell viability for chondrocytes and human mesenchymal stem cells, establishing their use in tissue engineering applications. This simple molecular tuning by changing hydrophobicity (with just a few carbon atoms) provides precise control over the viscoelasticity and 3D printability in fibrillar hydrogels and can be ported onto other 1D self-assembling structures. The molecular control and design of hydrogel network dynamics can push the field of supramolecular chemistry toward the design of new ECM-mimicking hydrogelators for numerous cell-culture and tissue-engineering applications and give access toward highly biomimetic bioinks for bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahzad Hafeez
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Ana A Aldana
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Duimel
- Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Floor A A Ruiter
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Monize Caiado Decarli
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Vanessa Lapointe
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
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5
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Blache U, Ford EM, Ha B, Rijns L, Chaudhuri O, Dankers PY, Kloxin AM, Snedeker JG, Gentleman E. Engineered hydrogels for mechanobiology. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:98. [PMID: 37461429 PMCID: PMC7614763 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00179-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Cells' local mechanical environment can be as important in guiding cellular responses as many well-characterized biochemical cues. Hydrogels that mimic the native extracellular matrix can provide these mechanical cues to encapsulated cells, allowing for the study of their impact on cellular behaviours. Moreover, by harnessing cellular responses to mechanical cues, hydrogels can be used to create tissues in vitro for regenerative medicine applications and for disease modelling. This Primer outlines the importance and challenges of creating hydrogels that mimic the mechanical and biological properties of the native extracellular matrix. The design of hydrogels for mechanobiology studies is discussed, including appropriate choice of cross-linking chemistry and strategies to tailor hydrogel mechanical cues. Techniques for characterizing hydrogels are explained, highlighting methods used to analyze cell behaviour. Example applications for studying fundamental mechanobiological processes and regenerative therapies are provided, along with a discussion of the limitations of hydrogels as mimetics of the native extracellular matrix. The article ends with an outlook for the field, focusing on emerging technologies that will enable new insights into mechanobiology and its role in tissue homeostasis and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Blache
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology and Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Disease, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Eden M. Ford
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, DE, USA
| | - Byunghang Ha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Laura Rijns
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, CA, USA
| | - Patricia Y.W. Dankers
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - April M. Kloxin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, DE, USA
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, DE, USA
| | - Jess G. Snedeker
- University Hospital Balgrist and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
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6
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Hafeez S, Passanha FR, Feliciano AJ, Ruiter FAA, Malheiro A, Lafleur RPM, Matsumoto NM, van Blitterswijk C, Moroni L, Wieringa P, LaPointe VLS, Baker MB. Modular mixing of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide supramolecular hydrogelators allows tunable biomimetic hydrogels for control of cell aggregation in 3D. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:4740-4755. [PMID: 35861034 PMCID: PMC9400794 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00312k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Few synthetic hydrogels can mimic both the viscoelasticity and supramolecular fibrous structure found in the naturally occurring extracellular matrix (ECM). Furthermore, the ability to control the viscoelasticity of fibrous supramolecular hydrogel networks to influence cell culture remains a challenge. Here, we show that modular mixing of supramolecular architectures with slow and fast exchange dynamics can provide a suitable environment for multiple cell types and influence cellular aggregation. We employed modular mixing of two synthetic benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) architectures: a small molecule water-soluble BTA with slow exchange dynamics and a telechelic polymeric BTA-PEG-BTA with fast exchange dynamics. Copolymerisation of these two supramolecular architectures was observed, and all tested formulations formed stable hydrogels in water and cell culture media. We found that rational tuning of mechanical and viscoelastic properties is possible by mixing BTA with BTA-PEG-BTA. These hydrogels showed high viability for both chondrocyte (ATDC5) and human dermal fibroblast (HDF) encapsulation (>80%) and supported neuronal outgrowth (PC12 and dorsal root ganglion, DRG). Furthermore, ATDC5s and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were able to form spheroids within these viscoelastic hydrogels, with control over cell aggregation modulated by the dynamic properties of the material. Overall, this study shows that modular mixing of supramolecular architectures enables tunable fibrous hydrogels, creating a biomimetic environment for cell encapsulation. These materials are suitable for the formation and culture of spheroids in 3D, critical for upscaling tissue engineering approaches towards cell densities relevant for physiological tissues. Dynamic hydrogels can allow cells to form complex multicellular aggregates. Herein, we show that the dynamics of the hydrogel environment can directly influence the speed and size of cellular aggregates formed by using a modularly tunable supramolecular hydrogel.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahzad Hafeez
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Fiona R Passanha
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio J Feliciano
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Floor A A Ruiter
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Afonso Malheiro
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - René P M Lafleur
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas M Matsumoto
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Paul Wieringa
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Vanessa L S LaPointe
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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7
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Su L, Mosquera J, Mabesoone MFJ, Schoenmakers SMC, Muller C, Vleugels MEJ, Dhiman S, Wijker S, Palmans ARA, Meijer EW. Dilution-induced gel-sol-gel-sol transitions by competitive supramolecular pathways in water. Science 2022; 377:213-218. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Fascinating properties are displayed by synthetic multicomponent supramolecular systems that comprise a manifold of competitive interactions, thereby mimicking natural processes. We present the integration of two reentrant phase transitions based on an unexpected dilution-induced assembly process using supramolecular polymers and surfactants. The co-assembly of the water-soluble benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA-EG
4
) and a surfactant at a specific ratio yielded small-sized aggregates. These interactions were modeled using the competition between self-sorting and co-assembly of both components. The small-sized aggregates were transformed into supramolecular polymer networks by a twofold dilution in water without changing their ratio. Kinetic experiments show the in situ growth of micrometer-long fibers in the dilution process. We were able to create systems that undergo fully reversible hydrogel-solution-hydrogel-solution transitions upon dilution by introducing another orthogonal interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Su
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Jesús Mosquera
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas, Universidade da Coruña (CICA), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Mathijs F. J. Mabesoone
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Sandra M. C. Schoenmakers
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Cyprien Muller
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Marle E. J. Vleugels
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Shikha Dhiman
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Stefan Wijker
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Anja R. A. Palmans
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - E. W. Meijer
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
- School of Chemistry and RNA Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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8
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Qiu R, Sasselli IR, Álvarez Z, Sai H, Ji W, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Supramolecular Copolymers of Peptides and Lipidated Peptides and Their Therapeutic Potential. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:5562-5574. [PMID: 35296133 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Supramolecular peptide chemistry offers a versatile strategy to create chemical systems useful as new biomaterials with potential to deliver nearly 1000 known candidate peptide therapeutics or integrate other types of bioactivity. We report here on the co-assembly of lipidated β-sheet-forming peptides with soluble short peptides, yielding supramolecular copolymers with various degrees of internal order. At low peptide concentrations, the co-monomer is protected by lodging within internal aqueous compartments and stabilizing internal β-sheets formed by the lipidated peptides. At higher concentrations, the peptide copolymerizes with the lipidated peptide and disrupts the β-sheet secondary structure. The thermodynamic metastability of the co-assembly in turn leads to the spontaneous release of peptide monomers and thus serves as a potential mechanism for drug delivery. We demonstrated the function of these supramolecular systems using a drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease and found that the copolymers enhance neuronal cell viability when the soluble peptide is released from the assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruomeng Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ivan R Sasselli
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Zaida Álvarez
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.,Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Hiroaki Sai
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Wei Ji
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.,Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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9
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Hafeez S, Ooi HW, Suylen D, Duimel H, Hackeng TM, van Blitterswijk C, Baker MB. Desymmetrization via Activated Esters Enables Rapid Synthesis of Multifunctional Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides and Creation of Supramolecular Hydrogelators. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:4057-4070. [PMID: 35196454 PMCID: PMC8915260 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular materials based on the self-assembly of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) offer an approach to mimic fibrous self-assembled proteins found in numerous natural systems. Yet, synthetic methods to rapidly build complexity, scalability, and multifunctionality into BTA-based materials are needed. The diversity of BTA structures is often hampered by the limited flexibility of existing desymmetrization routes and the purification of multifunctional BTAs. To alleviate this bottleneck, we have developed a desymmetrization method based on activated ester coupling of a symmetric synthon. We created a small library of activated ester synthons and found that a pentafluorophenol benzene triester (BTE) enabled effective desymmetrization and creation of multifunctional BTAs in good yield with high reaction fidelity. This new methodology enabled the rapid synthesis of a small library of BTA monomers with hydrophobic and/or orthogonal reactive handles and could be extended to create polymeric BTA hydrogelators. These BTA hydrogelators self-assembled in water to create fiber and fibrous sheet-like structures as observed by cryo-TEM, and the identity of the BTA conjugated can tune the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. These hydrogelators display high cytocompatibility for chondrocytes, indicating potential for the use of these systems in 3D cell culture and tissue engineering applications. This newly developed synthetic strategy facilitates the simple and rapid creation of chemically diverse BTA supramolecular polymers, and the newly developed and scalable hydrogels can unlock exploration of BTA based materials in a wider variety of tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahzad Hafeez
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Huey Wen Ooi
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Suylen
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Duimel
- Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4i), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Tilman M Hackeng
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
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10
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Varela-Aramburu S, Su L, Mosquera J, Morgese G, Schoenmakers SMC, Cardinaels R, Palmans ARA, Meijer EW. Introducing Hyaluronic Acid into Supramolecular Polymers and Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:4633-4641. [PMID: 34662095 PMCID: PMC8579400 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The use of supramolecular polymers to construct functional biomaterials is gaining more attention due to the tunable dynamic behavior and fibrous structures of supramolecular polymers, which resemble those found in natural systems, such as the extracellular matrix. Nevertheless, to obtain a biomaterial capable of mimicking native systems, complex biomolecules should be incorporated, as they allow one to achieve essential biological processes. In this study, supramolecular polymers based on water-soluble benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (BTAs) were assembled in the presence of hyaluronic acid (HA) both in solution and hydrogel states. The coassembly of BTAs bearing tetra(ethylene glycol) at the periphery (BTA-OEG4) and HA at different ratios showed strong interactions between the two components that led to the formation of short fibers and heterogeneous hydrogels. BTAs were further covalently linked to HA (HA-BTA), resulting in a polymer that was unable to assemble into fibers or form hydrogels due to the high hydrophilicity of HA. However, coassembly of HA-BTA with BTA-OEG4 resulted in the formation of long fibers, similar to those formed by BTA-OEG4 alone, and hydrogels were produced with tunable stiffness ranging from 250 to 700 Pa, which is 10-fold higher than that of hydrogels assembled with only BTA-OEG4. Further coassembly of BTA-OEG4 fibers with other polysaccharides showed that except for dextran, all polysaccharides studied interacted with BTA-OEG4 fibers. The possibility of incorporating polysaccharides into BTA-based materials paves the way for the creation of dynamic complex biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Varela-Aramburu
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Su
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Jesús Mosquera
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Morgese
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra M C Schoenmakers
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth Cardinaels
- Polymer Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Anja R A Palmans
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - E W Meijer
- Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
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11
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Rausch MK, Parekh SH, Dortdivanlioglu B, Rosales AM. Synthetic hydrogels as blood clot mimicking wound healing materials. PROGRESS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2021; 3:042006. [PMID: 35822083 PMCID: PMC9273113 DOI: 10.1088/2516-1091/ac23a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Excessive bleeding-or hemorrhage-causes millions of civilian and non-civilian casualties every year. Additionally, wound sequelae, such as infections, are a significant source of chronic morbidity, even if the initial bleeding is successfully stopped. To treat acute and chronic wounds, numerous wound healing materials have been identified, tested, and adopted. Among them are topical dressings, such as gauzes, as well as natural and biomimetic materials. However, none of these materials successfully mimic the complex and dynamic properties of the body's own wound healing material: the blood clot. Specifically, blood clots exhibit complex mechanical and biochemical properties that vary across spatial and temporal scales to guide the wound healing response, which make them the ideal wound healing material. In this manuscript, we review blood clots' complex mechanical and biochemical properties, review current wound healing materials, and identify opportunities where new materials can provide additional functionality, with a specific focus on hydrogels. We highlight recent developments in synthetic hydrogels that make them capable of mimicking a larger subset of blood clot features: as plugs and as stimuli for tissue repair. We conclude that future hydrogel materials designed to mimic blood clot biochemistry, mechanics, and architecture can be combined with exciting platelet-like particles to serve as hemostats that also promote the biological wound healing response. Thus, we believe synthetic hydrogels are ideal candidates to address the clear need for better wound healing materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel K. Rausch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Authors to whom any correspondence should be addressed. , , and
| | - Sapun H. Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Authors to whom any correspondence should be addressed. , , and
| | - Berkin Dortdivanlioglu
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Authors to whom any correspondence should be addressed. , , and
| | - Adrianne M. Rosales
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
- Authors to whom any correspondence should be addressed. , , and
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12
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Stach OS, Breul K, Berač CM, Urschbach M, Seiffert S, Besenius P. Bridging Rigidity and Flexibility: Modulation of Supramolecular Hydrogels by Metal Complexation. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 43:e2100473. [PMID: 34505725 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The combination of complementary, noncovalent interactions is a key principle for the design of multistimuli responsive hydrogels. In this work, an amphiphilic peptide, supramacromolecular hydrogelator which combines metal-ligand coordination induced gelation and thermoresponsive toughening is reported. Following a modular approach, the incorporation of the triphenylalanine sequence FFF into a structural (C3 EG ) and a terpyridine-functionalized (C3 Tpy ) C3 -symmetric monomer enables their statistical copolymerization into self-assembled, 1D nanorods in water, as investigated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the presence of a terpyridine functionalized telechelic polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linker, complex formation upon addition of different transition metal ions (Fe2+ , Zn2+ , Ni2+ ) induces the formation of soft, reversible hydrogels at a solid weight content of 1 wt% as observed by linear shear rheology. The viscoelastic behavior of Fe2+ and Zn2+ cross-linked hydrogels are basically identical, while the most kinetically inert Ni2+ coordinative bond leads to significantly weaker hydrogels, suggesting that the most dynamic rather than the most thermodynamically stable interaction supports the formation of robust and responsive hydrogel materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver S Stach
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Katharina Breul
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany.,Graduate School of Materials Science in Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Christian M Berač
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany.,Graduate School of Materials Science in Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Moritz Urschbach
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Sebastian Seiffert
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany.,Graduate School of Materials Science in Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Pol Besenius
- Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, Mainz, 55128, Germany.,Graduate School of Materials Science in Mainz, Staudingerweg 9, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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13
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Bantawa M, Fontaine-Seiler WA, Olmsted PD, Del Gado E. Microscopic interactions and emerging elasticity in model soft particulate gels. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2021; 33:414001. [PMID: 34265744 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac14f6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We discuss a class of models for particulate gels in which the particle contacts are described by an effective interaction combining a two-body attraction and a three-body angular repulsion. Using molecular dynamics, we show how varying the model parameters allows us to sample, for a given gelation protocol, a variety of gel morphologies. For a specific set of the model parameters, we identify the local elastic structures that get interlocked in the gel network. Using the analytical expression of their elastic energy from the microscopic interactions, we can estimate their contribution to the emergent elasticity of the gel and gain new insight into its origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minaspi Bantawa
- Department of Physics, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20057, United States of America
| | - Wayan A Fontaine-Seiler
- Department of Physics, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20057, United States of America
| | - Peter D Olmsted
- Department of Physics, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20057, United States of America
| | - Emanuela Del Gado
- Department of Physics, Institute for Soft Matter Synthesis and Metrology, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20057, United States of America
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Zhang K, Feng Q, Fang Z, Gu L, Bian L. Structurally Dynamic Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: Pursuing a Fine Balance between Macroscopic Stability and Microscopic Dynamics. Chem Rev 2021; 121:11149-11193. [PMID: 34189903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Owing to their unique chemical and physical properties, hydrogels are attracting increasing attention in both basic and translational biomedical studies. Although the classical hydrogels with static networks have been widely reported for decades, a growing number of recent studies have shown that structurally dynamic hydrogels can better mimic the dynamics and functions of natural extracellular matrix (ECM) in soft tissues. These synthetic materials with defined compositions can recapitulate key chemical and biophysical properties of living tissues, providing an important means to understanding the mechanisms by which cells sense and remodel their surrounding microenvironments. This review begins with the overall expectation and design principles of dynamic hydrogels. We then highlight recent progress in the fabrication strategies of dynamic hydrogels including both degradation-dependent and degradation-independent approaches, followed by their unique properties and use in biomedical applications such as regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and 3D culture. Finally, challenges and emerging trends in the development and application of dynamic hydrogels are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Qian Feng
- Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Fang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Luo Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States.,Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Liming Bian
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou International Campus, Guangzhou 511442, People's Republic of China.,National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China.,Innovation Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, People's Republic of China
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