Polyampholytes have shown promise as biomaterial platforms with resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption (non-biofouling). However, there are very few zwitterionic cross-linkers to complement these materials and provide tunable physical properties. Therefore, a series of peptide based zwitterionic crosslinkers have been synthesized to provide a variety of tunable polymer platforms and to evaluate the sustainability of non-fouling properties as the series changes. Peptide-based cross-linkers can be synthesized using multiple strategies and with amino acid building blocks: i.e., N-Boc-L-Serine, 1, or N-Boc-L-Lysine, 2. Key to these routes is the selective protection of both N and C termini and adding methacrylate groups either before or after coupling. In a preliminary hydrogel investigation, these cross-linkers provided increased non-fouling and selective protein adsorption capabilities over typical poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) cross-linkers. Moreover, molecular-level control over the length, charge spacing, charge density, and sidechains as shown in 3-6 will lead to fully tunable polymer hydrogels for directed biomaterial scaffolds.

Synthesis and development of a series of peptide based zwitterionic cross-linkers

ACS Spring 2022

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