|
1
|
Gallo E, Diaferia C, Giordano S, Rosa E, Carrese B, Piccialli G, Borbone N, Morelli G, Oliviero G, Accardo A. Ultrashort Cationic Peptide Fmoc-FFK as Hydrogel Building Block for Potential Biomedical Applications. Gels 2023; 10:12. [PMID: 38247735 PMCID: PMC10815546 DOI: 10.3390/gels10010012] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fmoc-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) is a low-molecular-weight peptide hydrogelator. This simple all-aromatic peptide can generate self-supporting hydrogel materials, which have been proposed as novel materials for diagnostic and pharmaceutical applications. Our knowledge of the molecular determinants of Fmoc-FF aggregation is used as a guide to design new peptide-based gelators, with features for the development of improved tools. Here, we enlarge the plethora of Fmoc-FF-based hydrogelated matrices by studying the properties of the Fmoc-FFK tripeptide, alone or in combination with Fmoc-FF. For multicomponent matrices, the relative weight ratios between Fmoc-FFK and Fmoc-FF (specifically, 1/1, 1/5, 1/10, and 1/20 w/w) are evaluated. All the systems and their multiscale organization are studied using different experimental techniques, including rheology, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preliminary profiles of biocompatibility for the studied systems are also described by testing them in vitro on HaCaT and 3T3-L1 cell lines. Additionally, the lysine (K) residue at the C-terminus of the Fmoc-FF moiety introduces into the supramolecular material chemical functions (amino groups) which may be useful for modification/derivatization with bioactive molecules of interest, including diagnostic probes, chelating agents, active pharmaceutical ingredients, or peptide nucleic acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Gallo
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (S.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Carlo Diaferia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Sabrina Giordano
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (S.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Rosa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Barbara Carrese
- IRCCS SYNLAB SDN, Via Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (E.G.); (S.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Gennaro Piccialli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Nicola Borbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giancarlo Morelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| | - 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; (C.D.); (E.R.); (G.P.); (N.B.); (G.M.)
| |
Collapse
|