Directional molecular sliding movement in peptide hydrogels accelerates cell proliferation.

Adjusting the mechanical cues generated in cellular microenvironments is important for manipulating cell behaviour. Here we report on mechanically dynamic hydrogels undergoing directional domain sliding motion and investigate the effect of the well-defined mechanical motion on accelerating cell proliferation. The mechanically dynamic hydrogels were prepared self-assembly of an amphiphilic peptide consisting of two alternating polar and nonpolar domains cross-linked by disulfide bonds at a nonsymmetrical position.