Peptide supramolecular self-assemblies are recognized as important components in responsive hydrogel based materials with applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Studying the influence of hydrogel matrices on the self-assembly behavior of peptides and interaction of self-assembly gel hybrids with cells is essential to guide the future development of optimized biomaterials. In this contribution, we present a high density PEG based host hydrogel material. The gel was studied in the presence of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and a non-adhesive cell behavior towards NIH 3T3 fibroblasts was observed. The gel forms intercalated Fmoc-FFY peptide self-assemblies upon diffusion of Fmoc-FF<i>p</i>Y into the crosslinked hydrogel network which was confirmed by circular dichroism, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and confocal microscopy. Control groups without ALP showed no self-assembly of the peptides. This enzyme promoted peptide self-assembly (EPSA) results in fibroblast cell adhesion. In this work, we have demonstrated that cell adhesion occurs entirely due to the presence of the supramolecular peptide self-assemblies in host gels and results exclusively from interactions of cells with non-covalent peptide self-assemblies. This result opens up the possibility to develop a divers set of hybid materials to control cell fate in culture due to tailored self-assemblies of peptides responding to the environment provided by the host guest gel.

Enzyme assisted peptide self-assemblies trigger cell adhesion in high density gels

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.