Two-component protein-engineered physical hydrogels for cell encapsulation.

ABSTRACT: Current protocols to encapsulate cells within physical hydrogels require substantial changes in environmental conditions (pH, temperature, or ionic strength) to initiate gelation. These conditions can be detrimental to cells and are often difficult to reproduce, therefore complicating their use in clinical settings. We report the development of a two-component, molecular-recognition gelation strategy that enables cell encapsulation without environmental triggers. Instead, the two components, which contain multiple repeats of WW and proline-rich peptide domains, undergo a sol-gel phase transition upon simple mixing and hetero-assembly of the peptide domains. We term these materials mixing-induced, two-component hydrogels. Our results demonstrate use of the WW and proline-rich domains in pro

SUBMITTER: Wong Po Foo CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2791665 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature