Environmentally sensitive gels assembled through protein-polysaccharide interactions

PMSE 130

Karen C. Butterfield, karen.butterfield@asu.edu1, Brandon Seal, bseal@asu.edu1, John Chaput, john.chaput@asu.edu2, and Alyssa Panitch, apanitch@purdue.edu3. (1) Harrington Department of Bioengineering, Arizona State University, ECG 334, Tempe, AZ 85287-9709, (2) Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, (3) Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 106 S. Intramural Rd, West Lafayette, IN 47907-9709
Polysaccharide-based hydrogels have emerged as an intriguing biomaterial for tissue engineering due to their low immunological response and the biological importance of polysaccharides throughout the extracellular matrix (ECM) in vivo. Within the ECM, polysaccharides associate with proteins to regulate cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. In order to simulate native ECM we have borrowed from biology to develop a hydrogel system that mimics an ECM environment and sequesters therapeutics with affinity for sulfated polysaccharides. These gels use polysaccharide to coordinate polysaccharide-binding peptides (PBP) bound to poly(ethylene glycol). In addition, our data suggests that polysaccharide-protein interactions play a role in controlling the mechanical properties of the ECM. Previous studies have featured the formation of physical polymer matrices with the well characterized polysaccharide heparin. However, few studies have focused on chondroitin sulfate (CS), an important structural and signaling molecule that can bind and release growth factors, as an optimal component for gel synthesis.
 

Designed Macromolecular Assemblies for Biomedical Applications
1:40 PM-5:20 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place South -- Room S505B, Level 5, Oral

Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007