Bioinspired photo-crosslinkable self-assembling peptides with pH-switchable “on–off” luminescence

Abstract

Drawing inspiration from the biological functions of tyrosine, we present a photo-cross-linking approach based on the ruthenium-complex-catalyzed conversion of tyrosine to dityrosine upon light irradiation of a tyrosine-containing self-assembling peptide.

Low-power microwaves: a cell-compatible physical treatment to enhance the mechanical properties of self-assembling peptides

“…We previously reported a covalent cross-linking approach using GP, a natural cross-linker with low cytotoxicity against hNSC. 28 Since GP confers promising high G ′ values on various SAP hydrogels, 27 we investigated the effect of GP on SAPs pre-treated with the previously optimized MW irradiation protocol ( i.e. 1 W, 20 min, 50 °C) (Table 3, Table S2,† and Fig.…”

“…Indeed, after MW treatment, 72 a higher level of clustering of multiple nanofibers was favored, similarly to what is observed after the chemical cross-linking reactions of SAPs. [27][28][29] In BM3, Fig. 2A, +RT nanofiber populations showed average width values of 22.3 ± 0.92 nm and, in the case of more entangled fibers, 39.1 ± 1.60, while the average height value was 2.7 ± 0.37 nm.…”

“…In previous works, we combined SAPs with cross-linkers to enhance their mechanical properties through covalent cross-linking by using homobifunctional, heterobifunctional, or photoreactive cross-linkers, such as genipin (GP), 23,24 4-( N -maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid 3-sulfo- N -hydroxysuccinimide ester (Sulfo-SMCC), 25,26 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide/ N -hydroxysulfosuccinimide (EDC/sulfo-NHS), 27 and Rubpy. 28…”

Advancements in antimicrobial nanoscale materials and self-assembling systems

“…178 In self-assembling systems where the formation of nanostructures is vital to the mechanism of action, control of this process enables a form of 'on/off' switch. 179 Chen et al utilised changes in pH to selectively change the surface charge of amino acids in peptide amphiphiles, either promoting or Fig. 10 The primary structure of compounds 8 and 9.…”

“… 178 In self-assembling systems where the formation of nanostructures is vital to the mechanism of action, control of this process enables a form of ‘on/off’ switch. 179 Chen et al utilised changes in pH to selectively change the surface charge of amino acids in peptide amphiphiles, either promoting or discouraging the formation of nanofibers. 180 Future studies may present a potential use for such switchable self-assembling AMPs to improve efficacy against bacterial cells and reduce potential toxicity.…”