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Giordano S, Gallo E, Diaferia C, Rosa E, Carrese B, Borbone N, Scognamiglio PL, Franzese M, Oliviero G, Accardo A. Multicomponent Peptide-Based Hydrogels Containing Chemical Functional Groups as Innovative Platforms for Biotechnological Applications. Gels 2023; 9:903. [PMID: 37998993 PMCID: PMC10671135 DOI: 10.3390/gels9110903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Multicomponent hydrogels (HGs) based on ultrashort aromatic peptides have been exploited as biocompatible matrices for tissue engineering applications, the delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, and the development of biosensors. Due to its capability to gel under physiological conditions of pH and ionic strength, the low molecular-weight Fmoc-FF (Nα-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-diphenylalanine) homodimer is one of the most studied hydrogelators. The introduction into the Fmoc-FF hydrogel of additional molecules like protein, organic compounds, or other peptide sequences often allows the generation of novel hydrogels with improved mechanical and functional properties. In this perspective, here we studied a library of novel multicomponent Fmoc-FF based hydrogels doped with different amounts of the tripeptide Fmoc-FFX (in which X= Cys, Ser, or Thr). The insertion of these tripeptides allows to obtain hydrogels functionalized with thiol or alcohol groups that can be used for their chemical post-derivatization with bioactive molecules of interest like diagnostic or biosensing agents. These novel multicomponent hydrogels share a similar peptide organization in their supramolecular matrix. The hydrogels' biocompatibility, and their propensity to support adhesion, proliferation, and even cell differentiation, assessed in vitro on fibroblast cell lines, allows us to conclude that the hybrid hydrogels are not toxic and can potentially act as a scaffold and support for cell culture growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Giordano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (C.D.); (N.B.)
| | - Enrico Gallo
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (B.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Carlo Diaferia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (C.D.); (N.B.)
| | - Elisabetta Rosa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (C.D.); (N.B.)
| | - Barbara Carrese
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (B.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Nicola Borbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (C.D.); (N.B.)
| | | | - Monica Franzese
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (B.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Giorgia Oliviero
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Antonella Accardo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (C.D.); (N.B.)
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McFetridge ML, Kulkarni K, Lee TH, Del Borgo MP, Aguilar MI, Ricardo SD. Elucidating the cell penetrating properties of self-assembling β-peptides. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14971-14980. [PMID: 37661822 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr03673a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling lipopeptide hydrogels have been widely developed for the delivery of therapeutics due to their rapid gelation, injectability, and highly controlled physicochemical properties. Lipopeptides are also known for their membrane-associating and cell penetrating properties, which may impact on their application in cell-encapsulation. Self-assembling lipidated-β3-peptide materials developed in our laboratory have previously been used in cell culture as 2D substrates, thus as a continuation of this work we aimed to encapsulate cells in 3D by forming a hydrogel. We therefore assessed the self-assembling lipidated-β3-peptides for cell-penetrating properties in mesenchymal stems cells (MSC) using fluorescence microscopy and membrane association with surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR). The results demonstrated that lipidated β3-peptides penetrate the MSC plasma membrane and localise to the mitochondrial network. While self-assembling lipopeptide hydrogels have shown tremendous potential for delivery of therapeutics, further optimisation may be required to minimise the membrane uptake of the lipidated-β3-peptides for cell encapsulation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg L McFetridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Ketav Kulkarni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Tzong-Hsien Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Mark P Del Borgo
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Marie-Isabel Aguilar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
| | - Sharon D Ricardo
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
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Song X, He S, Zheng J, Yang S, Li Q, Zhang Y. One-Step Construction of Tryptophan-Derived Small Molecule Hydrogels for Antibacterial Materials. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083334. [PMID: 37110568 PMCID: PMC10141015 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amino acid-based hydrogels have received widespread attention because of their wide range of sources, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Despite considerable progress, the development of such hydrogels has been limited by critical problems such as bacterial infection and complex preparation. Herein, by using the non-toxic gluconolactone (GDL) to adjust the pH of the solution to induce the rapid self-assembly of N-[(benzyloxy)carbonyl]-L-tryptophan (ZW) to form a three-dimensional (3D) gel network, we developed a stable and effective self-assembled small-molecule hydrogel. Characterization assays and molecular dynamics studies indicate that π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding are the main drivers of self-assembly between ZW molecules. In vitro experiments further confirmed this material's sustained release properties, low cytotoxicity, and excellent antibacterial activity, particularly against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. This study provides a different and innovative perspective for the further development of antibacterial materials based on amino acid derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianwen Song
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Shunmei He
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Shutong Yang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
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