Enzyme-responsive polymer hydrogel particles for controlled release

Paul D. Thornton, Robert J. Mart, Rein V. Ulijn

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    An approach based on an enzyme-responsive chemically crosslinked hydrogel that undergoes a macroscopic transition such as hydrogel swelling, when triggered by a target protease, resulting in release of entrapped molecules was analyzed. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based crosslinked polymers were modified with peptides providing dual functions, thus creating a zwitterionic peptide that confers no overall charge when coupled to a hydrogel. The enzyme responsiveness of the PEGA particles was studied using three complementary methods that included analysis of accessibility of the hydrogel by two-photon microscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, and particle diameters obtained by optical microscopy. It was observed that the hydrogel responds by swelling specifically in response to target enzymes based on the enzyme cleavable linker employed in the PEGA-coupled peptide chain.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1252-1256
    Number of pages4
    JournalAdvanced Materials
    Volume19
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 7 May 2007

    Keywords

    • 2-PHOTON MICROSCOPY
    • PEPTIDE-SYNTHESIS
    • SOLID SUPPORTS
    • DRUG-DELIVERY
    • PROTEASE
    • BIOMATERIALS
    • PROTEINASES
    • INHIBITORS
    • BIOLOGY
    • LIBRARIES

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