Rapid cross-linking of elastin-like polypeptides with (hydroxymethyl)phosphines in aqueous solution.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
In situ gelation of injectable polypeptide-based materials is attractive for minimally invasive in vivo implantation of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds. We demonstrate that chemically cross-linked elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) hydrogels can be rapidly formed in aqueous solution by reacting lysine-containing ELPs with an organophosphorous cross-linker, beta-[tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphino]propionic acid (THPP) under physiological conditions. The mechanical properties of the cross-linked ELP hydrogels were largely modulated by the molar concentration of lysine residues in the ELP and the pH at which the cross-linking reaction was carried out. Fibroblasts embedded in ELP hydrogels survived the cross-linking process and were viable after in vitro culture for 3 days. DNA quantification of ELP hydrogels with encapsulated fibroblasts indicated that there was no significant difference in DNA content between day 0 and day 3 when ELP hydrogels were formed with an equimolar ratio of THPP and lysine residues of the ELPs. These results suggest that THPP cross-linking may be a biocompatible strategy for the in situ formation of cross-linked hydrogels.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lim, DW; Nettles, DL; Setton, LA; Chilkoti, A
Published Date
- May 2007
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 8 / 5
Start / End Page
- 1463 - 1470
PubMed ID
- 17411091
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2562452
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1526-4602
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1525-7797
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1021/bm061059m
Language
- eng