Thermally Reversible Gel-Sol Transition of Hydrogels via Dissociation and Association of an Artificial Protein Nanocage.
Biomacromolecules
; 25(4): 2358-2366, 2024 Apr 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38445465
ABSTRACT
Oligomeric protein nanocages often disassemble into their subunits and reassemble by external stimuli. Thus, using these nanocages as cross-linkers for hydrogel network structures is a promising approach to allow hydrogels to undergo stimuli-responsive gel-sol transitions or self-healing. Here, we report hydrogels that show a reversible gel-sol transition resulting from the heat-induced dissociation and reassociation of protein nanocages. The hydrogel contained the 60-mer artificial protein nanocage, TIP60, as a supramolecular cross-linker for polyethylene glycol network structures. The hydrogel showed a gel-to-sol transition upon heating at a temperature above the melting point of TIP60 and immediately returned to a gel state upon cooling to room temperature. During the heating and cooling treatment of the hydrogel, small-angle X-ray scattering analysis suggested the dissociation and reassociation of TIP60. Furthermore, we demonstrated redox-responsive cargo release from TIP60 in the hydrogel. These results showed the potential of TIP60 as a component of multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Polietilenoglicóis
/
Hidrogéis
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article