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Fonseca RG, Kuster A, Fernandes PP, Tavakoli M, Pereira P, Fernandes JR, De Bon F, Serra AC, Fonseca AC, Coelho JFJ. Facile Synthesis of Highly Stretchable, Tough, and Photodegradable Hydrogels. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300918. [PMID: 37133868 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300918] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, highly stretchable and tough hydrogels that are photodegradable on-demand have been reported. Unfortunately, the preparation procedure is complex due to the hydrophobic nature of the photocrosslinkers. Herein, a simple method is reported to prepare photodegradable double-network (DN) hydrogels that exhibit high stretchability, toughness, and biocompatibility. Hydrophilic ortho-nitrobenzyl (ONB) crosslinkers incorporating different poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) backbones (600, 1000, and 2000 g mol-1 ) are synthesized. These photodegradable DN hydrogels are prepared by the irreversible crosslinking of chains by using such ONB crosslinkers, and the reversible ionic crosslinking between sodium alginate and divalent cations (Ca2+ ). Remarkable mechanical properties are obtained by combining ionic and covalent crosslinking and their synergistic effect, and by reducing the length of the PEG backbone. The rapid on-demand degradation of these hydrogels is also demonstrated by using cytocompatible light wavelength (λ = 365 nm) that degrades the photosensitive ONB units. The authors have successfully used these hydrogels as skin-worn sensors for monitoring human respiration and physical activities. A combination of excellent mechanical properties, facile fabrication, and on-demand degradation holds promise for their application as the next generation of substrates or active sensors eco-friendly for bioelectronics, biosensors, wearable computing, and stretchable electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita G Fonseca
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
| | - Aline Kuster
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
| | - Pedro P Fernandes
- Soft and Printed Microelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-194, Portugal
| | - Mahmoud Tavakoli
- Soft and Printed Microelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-194, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
- IPN - Instituto Pedro Nunes, Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento em Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Pedro Nunes, Coimbra, 3030-199, Portugal
| | - José R Fernandes
- Chemical Centre - Vila Real (CQVR), Physics Department, School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, 5000-801, Portugal
| | - Francesco De Bon
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
| | - Arménio C Serra
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
| | - Ana C Fonseca
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
| | - Jorge F J Coelho
- CEMMPRE - Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-790, Portugal
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Hu X, Feeney MJ, McIntosh E, Mullahoo J, Jia F, Xu Q, Thomas SW. Triggered Release of Encapsulated Cargo from Photoresponsive Polyelectrolyte Nanocomplexes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2016; 8:23517-22. [PMID: 27526052 PMCID: PMC5025818 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b07366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Combining the numerous advantages of using light as a stimulus, simple free radical random copolymerization, and the easy, all-aqueous preparation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), we prepared photolabile PEC nanoparticles and demonstrated their rapid degradation under UV light. As a proof of concept demonstration, the dye Nile Red was encapsulated in the PECs and successfully released into the surrounding solution as the polyelectrolyte nanocomplex carriers dissolved upon light irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoran Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62
Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Matthew J. Feeney
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62
Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Ethan McIntosh
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62
Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - James Mullahoo
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62
Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Feng Jia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts
University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts
University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Samuel W. Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62
Talbot Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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Abstract
Self-assembling peptide materials have been used extensively to mimic natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) by presenting bioactive epitopes on a synthetic matrix. Although this approach can facilitate a desired response from cells grown in the matrix, it lacks the capacity for spatial or temporal regulation of the presented signals. We describe here a photoresponsive, synthetic ECM using a supramolecular platform composed of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) that self-assemble into cylindrical nanofibers. A photocleavable nitrobenzyl ester group was included in the peptide backbone using a novel Fmoc-amino acid that is compatible with microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis. The placement of the photolabile group on the peptide backbone enabled efficient removal of the ECM-derived cell adhesion epitope RGDS from PA molecules upon exposure to light (half-life of photolysis ~1.9 min) without affecting the nanofiber assembly. Fibroblasts cultured on RGDS-presenting PA nanofiber substrates demonstrated increased cell spreading and more mature focal adhesions compared with unfunctionalized and control (RGES-presenting) surfaces, as determined by immunostaining and cell morphological analysis. Furthermore, we observed an arrest in fibroblast spreading on substrates containing a cleavable RGDS epitope when the culture was exposed to light; in contrast, this dynamic shift in cell response was absent when the RGDS epitope was attached to the PA molecule by a light-insensitive control linker. Light-responsive bioactive materials can contribute to the development of synthetic systems that more closely mimic the dynamic nature of native ECM.
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