The long-term goal of this research is to engineer peptide-based viscoelastic biomaterials (hydrogels) that can be used as encapsulated matrices for drug delivery and tissue repair applications. The focus of this proposal is on design principles, characterization and biocompatibility of these materials so that a foundation can be laid for future rational design of peptide-based viscoelastic biomaterials. This project has five specific design goals: 1). The materials can self-assemble in a combinatorial fashion from oligopeptide modules via non-covalent interactions at physiologically compatible conditions. 2). The materials possess tunable viscoelastic properties. 3). The materials can effectively retard solute diffusion and control solute release. 4). The materials contain appropriate magnetic signals for non-invasive imaging. 5). The materials are biocompatible. Various design strategies will be evaluated for their effectiveness in achieving the design goals. Interactions between hydrogels and encapsulated molecules (solutes) will be investigated. The impact of solutes on the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels and the ability of the hydrogels to retard solute diffusion and control solute released will both be determined. The purpose is to evaluate the suitability of these hydrogels as encapsulation matrices for drug delivery applications. Biocompatibility of the materials at the molecular and cellular levels will be investigated. At the molecular level, the effect of hydrogel encapsulation on protein folding and phosphorylation will be evaluated. A high-resolution non-invasive molecular biocompatibility testing method based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy will be developed. At the cellular level, viability of various cell lines cultured in the hydrogels will be determined. The purpose is to evaluate the suitability of these hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB004416-02
Application #
6944828
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BMBI (01))
Program Officer
Moy, Peter
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2008-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$302,963
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Joyner, Katherine; Taraban, Marc B; Feng, Yue et al. (2013) An interplay between electrostatic and polar interactions in peptide hydrogels. Biopolymers 100:174-83
Hyland, Laura L; Taraban, Marc B; Yu, Y Bruce (2013) Using Small-Angle Scattering Techniques to Understand Mechanical Properties of Biopolymer-Based Biomaterials. Soft Matter 9:
Hyland, Laura L; Twomey, Julianne D; Vogel, Savannah et al. (2013) Enhancing biocompatibility of D-oligopeptide hydrogels by negative charges. Biomacromolecules 14:406-12
Taraban, Marc B; Hyland, Laura L; Yu, Y Bruce (2013) Split of chiral degeneracy in mechanical and structural properties of oligopeptide-polysaccharide biomaterials. Biomacromolecules 14:3192-201
Taraban, Marc B; Weerasekare, Mahika; Trewhella, Jill et al. (2012) Effects of gadolinium chelate on the evolution of the nanoscale structure in peptide hydrogels. Biopolymers 98:50-8
Taraban, Marc B; Feng, Yue; Hammouda, Boualem et al. (2012) Chirality-Mediated Mechanical and Structural Properties of Oligopeptide Hydrogels. Chem Mater 24:2299-2310
Yue, Xuyi; Taraban, Marc B; Hyland, Laura L et al. (2012) Avoiding steric congestion in dendrimer growth through proportionate branching: a twist on da Vinci's rule of tree branching. J Org Chem 77:8879-87
Feng, Yue; Taraban, Marc; Yu, Y Bruce (2012) The Effect of Ionic Strength on the Mechanical, Structural and Transport Properties of Peptide Hydrogels. Soft Matter 8:11723-11731
Hyland, Laura L; Taraban, Marc B; Feng, Yue et al. (2012) Viscoelastic properties and nanoscale structures of composite oligopeptide-polysaccharide hydrogels. Biopolymers 97:177-88
Feng, Yue; Taraban, Marc; Yu, Y Bruce (2011) Linear Dependency of NMR Relaxation Rates on Shear Modulus in Hydrogels. Soft Matter 7:9890-9893

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