Protease-degradable microgels for protein delivery for vascularization.

ABSTRACT: Degradable hydrogels to deliver bioactive proteins represent an emerging platform for promoting tissue repair and vascularization in various applications. However, implanting these biomaterials requires invasive surgery, which is associated with complications such as inflammation, scarring, and infection. To address these shortcomings, we applied microfluidics-based polymerization to engineer injectable poly(ethylene glycol) microgels of defined size and crosslinked with a protease degradable peptide to allow for triggered release of proteins. The release rate of proteins covalently tethered within the microgel network was tuned by modifying the ratio of degradable to non-degradable crosslinkers, and the released proteins retained full bioactivity. Microgels injected into the dorsum of mic

SUBMITTER: Foster GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5121008 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature