Fanjun Zhang, Chengxin Hu, Qunshou Kong
Sep 24, 2019
Citations
0
Influential Citations
62
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
ACS applied materials & interfaces
Abstract
Drug loading hydrogels are promising candidates in bioengineering research filed, nevertheless, hydrophobic drug loading into hydrophilic carrier system remains unsolved and is full of challenge. In this work, following the potential dual interactions between peptides and aromatic drugs, we developed a potent hybrid hydrogel formation method, namely 'peptide/drug directed self-assembly'. The hybrid hydrogels were synthesized using polyethylene glycol (PEG) based Fmoc-FF peptide hybrid polyurethane, in which curcumin could be encapsulated through self-assembly with Fmoc-FF peptide via π-π stacking. Based on this, curcumin loading capacity could be improved to as high as 3.3 wt% with sustained release. In addition, the curcumin loading enhanced hydrogel mechanical properties from 4 kPa to over 10 kPa, similar to that of natural soft tissues. Furthermore, the hydrogels were injectable with self-healing properties since the Fmoc-FF peptide/curcumin co-assembly was non-covalent and reversible. Spectroscopy results confirmed the existence of the co-assembly of Fmoc-FF peptide/curcumin. Further in vivo experiments effectively demonstrated that the hydrogels could improve the cutaneous wound healing in a full-thickness skin defected model. This peptide/drug directed self-assembly of hybrid polyurethane hydrogel could be used as a promising platform for tissue-engineering scaffold and biomedical application.