Programming Hydrogel Mechanics via Sequence-Controlled Polymerization Using Peptide Self-Assembly.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogels often have poor mechanical properties due to their high water content and low polymer concentration, which limits their utility in applications that require them to withstand applied forces. Inspired by natural biopolymers such as collagen and actin, which form highly extended fibrillar networks that stiffen biological tissues, we developed a modular strategy that utilizes self-assembling peptides to direct the formation of covalently polymerized diacetylene networks in hydrogels. By systematically tuning peptide sequences, we precisely controlled the supramolecular organization and molecular orientation within the self-assembled nanofibers. This optimization enabled efficient topotactic polymerization of diacetylene moieties within the self-assembling peptides. Peptide sequences

SUBMITTER: S Moghaddam A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12903843 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature