Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment
The use of synthetic extracellular matrices (ECMs) in fundamental in vitro cell culture studies has been instrumental for investigating the interplay between cells and matrix components. To provide cells with a more native environment in vitro, it is desirable to design matrices that are biomimetic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Materials Today Bio |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006423000583 |
| _version_ | 1827975058244501504 |
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| author | Yichen Yuan Yejiao Shi Jayati Banerjee Amin Sadeghpour Helena S. Azevedo |
| author_facet | Yichen Yuan Yejiao Shi Jayati Banerjee Amin Sadeghpour Helena S. Azevedo |
| author_sort | Yichen Yuan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of synthetic extracellular matrices (ECMs) in fundamental in vitro cell culture studies has been instrumental for investigating the interplay between cells and matrix components. To provide cells with a more native environment in vitro, it is desirable to design matrices that are biomimetic and emulate compositional and structural features of natural ECMs. Here, the supramolecular fabrication of peptide-hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels is presented as potential ECM surrogates, combining native HA and rationally designed cationic amphipatic peptides [(KI)nK, lysine (K), isoleucine (I), n = 2–6] whose mechanical properties and microstructure are tunable by the peptide sequence. (KI)nK peptides adopt β-sheet configuration and self-assemble into filamentous nanostructures triggered by pH or ionic strength. The self-assembly propensity of (KI)nK peptides increases with the sequence length, forming single phase hydrogels (shorter peptides) or with phase separation (longer peptides) in presence of the anionic polyelectrolyte HA through electrostatic complexations. The gel phase formed in (KI)nK-HA complexes exhibits viscoelastic behavior and triggers the formation of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids which disassemble over the time. It is anticipated that these (KI)nK-HA hydrogels with tunable physical and biochemical properties offer a promising platform for in vitro applications and in stem cell therapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:04:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84f514cb0ac54df1880a01807a984e42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-0064 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:04:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials Today Bio |
| spelling | doaj.art-84f514cb0ac54df1880a01807a984e422023-04-02T06:14:57ZengElsevierMaterials Today Bio2590-00642023-04-0119100598Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironmentYichen Yuan0Yejiao Shi1Jayati Banerjee2Amin Sadeghpour3Helena S. Azevedo4School of Engineering and Materials Science & Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK; Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, PR ChinaSchool of Engineering and Materials Science & Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK; Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR ChinaSchool of Engineering and Materials Science & Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UKSchool of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UKSchool of Engineering and Materials Science & Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK; i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-180, Porto, Portugal; Corresponding author. i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.The use of synthetic extracellular matrices (ECMs) in fundamental in vitro cell culture studies has been instrumental for investigating the interplay between cells and matrix components. To provide cells with a more native environment in vitro, it is desirable to design matrices that are biomimetic and emulate compositional and structural features of natural ECMs. Here, the supramolecular fabrication of peptide-hyaluronan (HA) hydrogels is presented as potential ECM surrogates, combining native HA and rationally designed cationic amphipatic peptides [(KI)nK, lysine (K), isoleucine (I), n = 2–6] whose mechanical properties and microstructure are tunable by the peptide sequence. (KI)nK peptides adopt β-sheet configuration and self-assemble into filamentous nanostructures triggered by pH or ionic strength. The self-assembly propensity of (KI)nK peptides increases with the sequence length, forming single phase hydrogels (shorter peptides) or with phase separation (longer peptides) in presence of the anionic polyelectrolyte HA through electrostatic complexations. The gel phase formed in (KI)nK-HA complexes exhibits viscoelastic behavior and triggers the formation of human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids which disassemble over the time. It is anticipated that these (KI)nK-HA hydrogels with tunable physical and biochemical properties offer a promising platform for in vitro applications and in stem cell therapy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006423000583Amphipathic peptidesSelf-assemblyHyaluronanSupramolecular structured hydrogelsStem cell spheroids |
| spellingShingle | Yichen Yuan Yejiao Shi Jayati Banerjee Amin Sadeghpour Helena S. Azevedo Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment Materials Today Bio Amphipathic peptides Self-assembly Hyaluronan Supramolecular structured hydrogels Stem cell spheroids |
| title | Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| title_full | Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| title_short | Structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self-assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| title_sort | structuring supramolecular hyaluronan hydrogels via peptide self assembly for modulating the cell microenvironment |
| topic | Amphipathic peptides Self-assembly Hyaluronan Supramolecular structured hydrogels Stem cell spheroids |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006423000583 |
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