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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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2
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Clauss ZS, Meudom R, Su B, VandenBerg MA, Saini SS, Webber MJ, Chou DHC, Kramer JR. Supramolecular Protein Stabilization with Zwitterionic Polypeptide-Cucurbit[7]uril Conjugates. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:481-488. [PMID: 36512327 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is an obstacle for the development of new biopharmaceuticals, presenting challenges in shipping and storage of vital therapies. Though a variety of materials and methods have been explored, the need remains for a simple material that is biodegradable, nontoxic, and highly efficient at stabilizing protein therapeutics. In this work, we investigated zwitterionic polypeptides prepared using a rapid and scalable polymerization technique and conjugated to a supramolecular macrocycle host, cucurbit[7]uril, for the ability to inhibit aggregation of model protein therapeutics insulin and calcitonin. The polypeptides are based on the natural amino acid methionine, and zwitterion sulfonium modifications were compared to analogous cationic and neutral structures. Each polymer was end-modified with a single cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle to afford supramolecular recognition and binding to terminal aromatic amino acids on proteins. Only conjugates prepared from zwitterionic structures of sufficient chain lengths were efficient inhibitors of insulin aggregation and could also inhibit aggregation of calcitonin. This polypeptide exhibited no cytotoxicity in human cells even at concentrations that were five-fold of the intended therapeutic regime. We explored treatment of the zwitterionic polypeptides with a panel of natural proteases and found steady biodegradation as expected, supporting eventual clearance when used as a protein formulation additive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary S Clauss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Rolande Meudom
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Bo Su
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Simranpreet S Saini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Jessica R Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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Xian S, VandenBerg MA, Xiang Y, Yu S, Webber MJ. Glucose-Responsive Injectable Thermogels via Dynamic-Covalent Cross-Linking of Pluronic Micelles. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4873-4885. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sijie Xian
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Michael A. VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Yuanhui Xiang
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Sihan Yu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Matthew J. Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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VandenBerg MA, Sahoo JK, Zou L, McCarthy W, Webber MJ. Divergent Self-Assembly Pathways to Hierarchically Organized Networks of Isopeptide-Modified Discotics under Kinetic Control. ACS Nano 2020; 14:5491-5505. [PMID: 32297733 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b09610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Natural proteins traverse complex free energy landscapes to assemble into hierarchically organized structures, often through stimuli-directed kinetic pathways in response to relevant biological cues. Bioinspired strategies have sought to emulate the complexity, dynamicity, and modularity exhibited in these natural processes with synthetic analogues. However, these efforts are limited by many factors that complicate the rational design and predictable assembly of synthetic constructs, especially in aqueous environments. Herein, a model discotic amphiphile gelator is described that undergoes pathway-dependent structural maturation when exposed to varying application rates of a pH stimulus, investigated by electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and X-ray scattering techniques. Under the direction of a slowly changing pH stimulus, complex hierarchical assemblies result, characterized by mesoscale elongated "superstructure" bundles embedded in a percolated mesh of narrow nanofibers. In contrast, the assembly under a rapidly applied pH stimulus is characterized by homogeneous structures that are reminiscent of the superstructures arising from the more deliberate path, except with significantly reduced scale and concomitantly large increases in bulk rheological properties. This synthetic system bears resemblance to the pathway complexity and hierarchical ordering observed for native structures, such as collagen, and points to fundamental design principles that might be applied toward enhanced control of the properties of supramolecular self-assembly across length scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Lei Zou
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - William McCarthy
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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Sahoo JK, VandenBerg MA, Webber MJ. Kinetic Evolution in Metal-Dependent Self-Assembly of Peptide-Terpyridine Conjugates. Macromol Rapid Commun 2019; 41:e1900565. [PMID: 31880036 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Nature realizes impressive structures and emergent functions through precisely organized non-covalent interactions, and this inspires the use of supramolecular motifs to engineer new materials. Herein, an amphiphilic peptide-terpyridine conjugate is reported that forms 1D nanostructures leading to hydrogels. Upon the addition of metal, a slow kinetic transition occurs, resulting in nanostructures which are dictated by the chosen metal binding to the terpyridine ligand. As such, bis-complex formation between terminal terpyridines redirects the assembly from peptide-driven 1D structures to an assortment of new nanostructures which evolve and appear over the course of weeks. Studies where pre-existing peptide structures are disrupted prior to metal addition yield these same structures right away, further confirming the kinetically labored pathway to their formation when beginning from an assembled state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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Zheng N, Karra P, VandenBerg MA, Kim JH, Webber MJ, Holland WL, Chou DHC. Synthesis and Characterization of an A6-A11 Methylene Thioacetal Human Insulin Analogue with Enhanced Stability. J Med Chem 2019; 62:11437-11443. [PMID: 31804076 PMCID: PMC7217704 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Insulin has been a life-saving drug for millions of people with diabetes. However, several challenges exist which limit therapeutic benefits and reduce patient convenience. One key challenge is the fibrillation propensity, which necessitates refrigeration for storage. To address this limitation, we chemically synthesized and evaluated a methylene thioacetal human insulin analogue (SCS-Ins). The synthesized SCS-Ins showed enhanced serum stability and aggregation resistance while retaining bioactivity compared with native insulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Prasoona Karra
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Michael A. VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Jin Hwan Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Matthew J. Webber
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - William L. Holland
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
| | - Danny Hung-Chieh Chou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
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Xiong X, Blakely A, Karra P, VandenBerg MA, Ghabash G, Whitby F, Zhang YW, Webber MJ, Holland WL, Hill CP, Chou DHC. Novel four-disulfide insulin analog with high aggregation stability and potency. Chem Sci 2019; 11:195-200. [PMID: 32110371 PMCID: PMC7012051 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc04555d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel four-disulfide insulin analog was designed with retained bioactivity and increased fibrillation stability.
Although insulin was first purified and used therapeutically almost a century ago, there is still a need to improve therapeutic efficacy and patient convenience. A key challenge is the requirement for refrigeration to avoid inactivation of insulin by aggregation/fibrillation. Here, in an effort to mitigate this problem, we introduced a 4th disulfide bond between a C-terminal extended insulin A chain and residues near the C-terminus of the B chain. Insulin activity was retained by an analog with an additional disulfide bond between residues A22 and B22, while other linkages tested resulted in much reduced potency. Furthermore, the A22-B22 analog maintains the native insulin tertiary structure as demonstrated by X-ray crystal structure determination. We further demonstrate that this four-disulfide analog has similar in vivo potency in mice compared to native insulin and demonstrates higher aggregation stability. In conclusion, we have discovered a novel four-disulfide insulin analog with high aggregation stability and potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
| | - Alan Blakely
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
| | - Prasoona Karra
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , University of Notre Dame , IN 46556 , USA
| | - Gabrielle Ghabash
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
| | - Frank Whitby
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
| | - Yi Wolf Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering , University of Notre Dame , IN 46556 , USA
| | - William L Holland
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA
| | - Christopher P Hill
- Department of Biochemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City UT 84112 , USA . ;
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Sahoo JK, VandenBerg MA, Ruiz Bello EE, Nazareth CD, Webber MJ. Electrostatic-driven self-sorting and nanostructure speciation in self-assembling tetrapeptides. Nanoscale 2019; 11:16534-16543. [PMID: 31455952 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr03440d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Significant efforts in the field of supramolecular materials have strived to co-assemble small molecules in order to realize individual nanostructures with multiple, tunable activities. The design of self-assembling motifs bearing opposite charges is one commonly used method, with favorable electrostatic interactions used to promote mixing in a resulting co-assembly. This approach, at the same time, contrasts with a typical thermodynamic preference for self-sorting. Moreover, rigorous experimental techniques which can clearly elucidate co-assembly from self-sorting are limited. Here we describe the self-assembly of two oppositely charged tetrapeptides yielding highly disparate nanostructures of fibrillar and spherical assemblies. Upon mixing at different ratios, the disparate nanostructure of the parent peptides remain. Interestingly, while the assemblies appear self-sorted, surface-mediated interactions between spherical and fibrous assemblies translate to increased mechanical properties through enhanced fiber bundling. Moreover, the observed self-sorting is a thermodynamic product and not a result of kinetically trapped pre-existing structures. Taken together, and with the benefit of disparate nanostructures in the parent peptides, we have shown in our system experimental evidence for electrostatic-driven self-sorting in oligopeptide self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Edgar E Ruiz Bello
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Calvin D Nazareth
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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VandenBerg MA, Webber MJ. Biologically Inspired and Chemically Derived Methods for Glucose-Responsive Insulin Therapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1801466. [PMID: 30605265 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201801466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The controlled delivery of therapeutics in a manner responsive to physiological indicators has promise in realizing new therapeutic approaches to combat disease. This approach is especially relevant in the context of diabetes. Natural fluctuations in blood glucose seen in the healthy state, complete with peaks and troughs, are poorly regulated as a result of detrimental production or ineffective signaling of the insulin hormone. While several manifestations of diabetes are treated with regularly administered exogenous insulin, the present standard of care results in suboptimal glycemic management that poorly recreates natural hormone control, leading to long-term instability and a significantly increased risk for secondary health complications. New synthetic technologies that make insulin available only when needed, and at the exact dose required, have been explored under the broad vision of realizing a "fully synthetic pancreas." Yet, many challenges remain to realizing a technology that is appropriately responsive, safe, and well integrated into a manageable routine. Herein, many of the approaches explored thus far to sense physiological blood glucose and elicit response through the release of therapeutic insulin are summarized. The approaches point to a new, autonomous approach to managing diabetes with biomimetic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Notre Dame 205 McCourtney Hall Notre Dame IN 46556 USA
| | - Matthew J. Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Notre Dame 205 McCourtney Hall Notre Dame IN 46556 USA
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Sahoo JK, Nazareth C, VandenBerg MA, Webber MJ. Aromatic identity, electronic substitution, and sequence in amphiphilic tripeptide self-assembly. Soft Matter 2018; 14:9168-9174. [PMID: 30398280 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01994k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of self-assembly in short peptides (2-4 amino acids) has been a source of curiosity, in part for its role in helping to better understand and predict how minimal sequences within proteins might contribute to the formation of larger structures or aggregates. Building on previous work in this field, here we investigate a family of amphiphilic tripeptides for their self-assembly and hydrogel formation. From a parent peptide, Ac-FID-NH2, which was previously shown to self-assemble into high aspect-ratio filaments and form hydrogels, we explored the significance of structural features or sequence variations on the observed self-assembly. This process entailed substituting key aromatic residues, altering the electronics of these aromatic drivers of assembly, and screening tripeptide constitutional isomers. This work more clearly elucidates the mechanisms and design parameters that govern the creation of materials from short peptide building blocks, as well as offering greater insight into the interactions between minimal segments of proteins that underlie their structure and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Abstract
Supramolecular chemistry enables the creation of a diversity of nanostructures and materials. Many of these have been explored for applications as biomaterials and therapeutics. Among them, self-assembling peptides have been broadly applied. The structural diversity afforded from the library of amino acid building blocks has enabled control of emergent properties across length-scales. Here, we report on a family of amphiphilic tripeptides with sequence-controlled nanostructure. By altering one amino acid in these peptides, we can produce a diversity of nanostructures with different aspect-ratio and geometry. Peptides that produce high aspect-ratio structures can physically entangle to form hydrogels, which support cell viability in culture. Importantly, in comparison to many other short self-assembling peptide biomaterials, those reported here form filamentous nanostructures in the absence of typical secondary structures (i.e., β-sheet). Thus, we have illustrated a facile way to obtain versatile biomaterials with different nanostructural morphology from short and defined peptide sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Calvin Nazareth
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA and Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA and Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA and Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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Sahoo JK, VandenBerg MA, Webber MJ. Injectable network biomaterials via molecular or colloidal self-assembly. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 127:185-207. [PMID: 29128515 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembly is a powerful tool to create functional materials. A specific application for which self-assembled materials are ideally suited is in creating injectable biomaterials. Contrasting with traditional biomaterials that are implanted through surgical means, injecting biomaterials through the skin offers numerous advantages, expanding the scope and impact for biomaterials in medicine. In particular, self-assembled biomaterials prepared from molecular or colloidal interactions have been frequently explored. The strategies to create these materials are varied, taking advantage of engineered oligopeptides, proteins, and nanoparticles as well as affinity-mediated crosslinking of synthetic precursors. Self-assembled materials typically facilitate injectability through two different mechanisms: i) in situ self-assembly, whereby materials would be administered in a monomeric or oligomeric form and self-assemble in response to some physiologic stimulus, or ii) self-assembled materials that, by virtue of their dynamic, non-covalent interactions, shear-thin to facilitate flow within a syringe and subsequently self-heal into its reassembled material form at the injection site. Indeed, many classes of materials are capable of being injected using a combination of these two mechanisms. Particular utility has been noted for self-assembled biomaterials in the context of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and immunoengineering. Given the controlled and multifunctional nature of many self-assembled materials demonstrated to date, we project a future where injectable self-assembled biomaterials afford improved practice in advancing healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Michael A VandenBerg
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Harper Cancer Research Institute, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Warren Family Center for Drug Discovery and Development, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA; Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NDnano), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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