Two synthetic supramolecular hydrogels, formed from bis-urea amphiphiles containing lactobionic acid (LBA) and maltobionic acid (MBA) bioactive ligands, are applied as cell culture matrices . Their fibrillary and dynamic nature mimics essential features of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The carbohydrate amphiphiles self-assemble into long supramolecular fibers in water, and hydrogels are formed by physical entanglement of fibers through bundling. Gels of both amphiphiles exhibit good self-healing behavior, but remarkably different stiffnesses. They display excellent bioactive properties in hepatic cell cultures. Both carbohydrate ligands used are proposed to bind to asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) in hepatic cells, thus inducing spheroid formation when seeding hepatic HepG2 cells on both supramolecular hydrogels. Ligand nature, ligand density, and hydrogel stiffness influence cell migration and spheroid size and number. The results illustrate the potential of self-assembled, carbohydrate-functionalized hydrogels as matrices for liver tissue engineering.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10265662 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01390 | DOI Listing |
Biomaterials
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Key Lab of Biomedical Materials of Natural Macromolecules (Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education), Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address:
Persistent inflammation is a major cause of diabetic wounds that are difficult to heal. This is manifested in diabetic wounds with excessive reactive oxygen clusters (ROS), advanced glycation end products (AGE) and other inflammatory factors, and difficulty in polarizing macrophages toward inhibiting inflammation. Berberine is a natural plant molecule that inhibits inflammation; however, its low solubility limits its biological function through cytosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomacromolecules
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
In this work, we investigate the pH-responsive behavior of multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogels containing histidine. Small-angle X-ray scattering confirmed that MDP nanofibers sequester nonpolar residues into a hydrophobic core surrounded by a shell of hydrophilic residues. MDPs with histidine on the hydrophilic face formed nanofibers at all pH values tested, but the morphology of the fibers was influenced by the protonation state and the location of histidine in the MDP sequence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China.
Protein self-assembly allows for the formation of diverse supramolecular materials from relatively simple building blocks. In this study, a single-component self-assembling hydrogel is developed using the recombinant protein CsgA, and its successful application for spinal cord injury repair is demonstrated. Gelation is achieved by the physical entanglement of CsgA nanofibrils, resulting in a self-supporting hydrogel at low concentrations (≥5 mg mL).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Mater Chem B
January 2025
School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Most synthetic hydrogels are formed through radical polymerization to yield a homogenous covalent meshwork. In contrast, natural hydrogels form through mechanisms involving both covalent assembly and supramolecular interactions. In this communication, we expand the capabilities of covalent poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) networks through co-assembly of supramolecular peptide nanofibers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbohydr Polym
March 2025
College of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China; Key Laboratory of Fundamental Chemistry of the State Ethnic Commission, College of Chemistry and Environment, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China. Electronic address:
Cholesterol (CHO) is an essential lipid in cell membranes and a precursor for vital living substances. Abnormal CHO levels can cause cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, simple and accurate monitoring of CHO levels is crucial for early diagnosis and effective management of cardiovascular diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!