Tuneable Hybrid Hydrogels via Complementary Self-Assembly of a Bioactive Peptide with a Robust Polysaccharide

Synthetic materials designed for improved biomimicry of the extracellular matrix must contain fibrous, bioactive, and mechanical cues. Self-assembly low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) peptides Fmoc-DIKVAV (Fmoc-aspartic acid-isoleucine-lysine-valine-alanine-valine) Fmoc-FRGDF (Fmoc-phenylalanine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-phenylalanine) creates fibrous bioactive hydrogels. Polysaccharides such as agarose are biocompatible, degradable, non-toxic. Agarose these Fmoc-peptides have both demonstrated efficacy in vitro vivo. These complementary properties; has known mechanics physiological range but is inert would benefit from topographical cues found protein-rich matrix. synthetic self-assembling that present “IKVAV” “RGD” ECM proteins laminin fibronectin. The work presented here demonstrates addition to results physical characteristics dependent on concentration. networks peptide-dominated at concentrations, agarose-dominated high resulting distinct changes structural morphology. Interestingly, mid-range concentration, a hybrid network formed with similarities peptide systems, demonstrating reinforced properties. Bioactive-LMWG polysaccharide hydrogels demonstrate controllable microenvironmental properties, providing ability tissue-specific biomaterial design tissue engineering 3D cell culture.