Peptide-Functionalized Click Hydrogels with Independently Tunable Mechanics and Chemical Functionality for 3D Cell Culture.

摘要: Click chemistry offers highly selective and orthogonal reactions that proceed rapidly under a variety of mild conditions with the opportunity to create defined multifunctional materials. This work illustrates strategy where step-growth networks are formed via copper-free, azide−alkyne click between tetrafunctional poly(ethylene glycol) molecules difunctionalized synthetic polypeptides. The molecular weight polymer precursors (10, 15, or 20 kDa PEG) stoichiometry reactive end group functionalities (1.5:1 1:1.5) provide control over material cross-linking density, enabling elastic materials tunable moduli (G′ = 1000−6000 Pa). A sequential photochemically activated thiol-ene allows subsequent functionalization network through reaction pendant alkene moieties on peptide. Because is light-driven, degree modification directly related dosage light delivered system (0−...