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Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ghoorchian, A; Simon, JR; Bharti, B; Han, W; Zhao, X; Chilkoti, A; Lõpez, GP
Published in: Advanced Functional Materials
June 1, 2015

Noncovalently cross-linked networks are attractive hydrogel platforms because of their facile fabrication, dynamic behavior, and biocompatibility. The majority of noncovalently cross-linked hydrogels, however, exhibits poor mechanical properties, which significantly limit their utility in load bearing applications. To address this limitation, hydrogels are presented composed of micelles created from genetically engineered, amphiphilic, elastin-like polypeptides that contain a relatively large hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic terminus that can be cross-linked through metal ion coordination. To create the hydrogels, heat is firstly used to trigger the self-assembly of the polypeptides into monodisperse micelles that display transition metal coordination motifs on their coronae, and subsequently cross-link the micelles by adding zinc ions. These hydrogels exhibit hierarchical structure, are stable over a large temperature range, and exhibit tunable stiffness, self-healing, and fatigue resistance. Gels with polypeptide concentration of 10%, w/v, and higher show storage moduli of ≈1 MPa from frequency sweep tests and exhibit self-healing within minutes. These reversibly cross-linked, hierarchical hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties have potential utility in a variety of biomedical applications.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

EISSN

1616-3028

ISSN

1616-301X

Publication Date

June 1, 2015

Volume

25

Issue

21

Start / End Page

3122 / 3130

Related Subject Headings

  • Materials
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences
 

Citation

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Ghoorchian, A., Simon, J. R., Bharti, B., Han, W., Zhao, X., Chilkoti, A., & Lõpez, G. P. (2015). Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties. Advanced Functional Materials, 25(21), 3122–3130. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201500699
Ghoorchian, A., J. R. Simon, B. Bharti, W. Han, X. Zhao, A. Chilkoti, and G. P. Lõpez. “Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties.” Advanced Functional Materials 25, no. 21 (June 1, 2015): 3122–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201500699.
Ghoorchian A, Simon JR, Bharti B, Han W, Zhao X, Chilkoti A, et al. Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties. Advanced Functional Materials. 2015 Jun 1;25(21):3122–30.
Ghoorchian, A., et al. “Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties.” Advanced Functional Materials, vol. 25, no. 21, June 2015, pp. 3122–30. Scopus, doi:10.1002/adfm.201500699.
Ghoorchian A, Simon JR, Bharti B, Han W, Zhao X, Chilkoti A, Lõpez GP. Bioinspired reversibly cross-linked hydrogels comprising polypeptide micelles exhibit enhanced mechanical properties. Advanced Functional Materials. 2015 Jun 1;25(21):3122–3130.
Journal cover image

Published In

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

EISSN

1616-3028

ISSN

1616-301X

Publication Date

June 1, 2015

Volume

25

Issue

21

Start / End Page

3122 / 3130

Related Subject Headings

  • Materials
  • 51 Physical sciences
  • 40 Engineering
  • 34 Chemical sciences
  • 09 Engineering
  • 03 Chemical Sciences
  • 02 Physical Sciences