Multi-responsive polypeptide hydrogels derived from N-carboxyanhydride terpolymerizations for delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A polypeptide-based hydrogel system, when prepared from a diblock polymer with a ternary copolypeptide as one block, exhibited thermo-, mechano- and enzyme-responsive properties, which enabled the encapsulation of naproxen (Npx) during the sol-gel transition and its release in the gel state. Statistical terpolymerizations of l-alanine (Ala), glycine (Gly) and l-isoleucine (Ile) NCAs at a 1:1:1 feed ratio initiated by monomethoxy monoamino-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) afforded a series of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(l-alanine-co-glycine-co-l-isoleucine) (mPEG-b-P(A-G-I)) block polymers. -Sheets were the dominant secondary structures within the polypeptide segments, which facilitated a heat-induced sol-to-gel transition, resulting from the supramolecular assembly of -sheets into nanofibrils. Deconstruction of the three-dimensional networks by mechanical force (sonication) triggered the reverse gel-to-sol transition. Certain enzymes could accelerate the breakdown of the hydrogel, as determined by in vitro gel weight loss profiles. The hydrogels were able to encapsulate and release Npx over 6 days, demonstrating the potential application of these polypeptide hydrogels as an injectable local delivery system for small molecule drugs.

published proceedings

  • Org Biomol Chem

altmetric score

  • 0.75

author list (cited authors)

  • Fan, J., Li, R., Wang, H., He, X., Nguyen, T. P., Letteri, R. A., Zou, J., & Wooley, K. L.

citation count

  • 27

complete list of authors

  • Fan, Jingwei||Li, Richen||Wang, Hai||He, Xun||Nguyen, Tan P||Letteri, Rachel A||Zou, Jiong||Wooley, Karen L

publication date

  • June 2017