Metal-free “Click” Chemistry for the Development of Peptide-based Biomaterials

Overview

Hydrogels can be injected into localized surface tumors for the consistent release of anti-cancer drugs over a specific period of time. This project used metal-free “click” chemistry to develop novel biocompatible and temperature-sensitive peptide-based hydrogels which form at 37°C. These hydrogels are quick and possibly cheap to synthesize as the ultrashort peptides are only 6 amino acids long. Gelation time can be customized to complement various anti-cancer drugs with different characteristics. Ultrashort peptides ILVAGK-NH2 (IK6-NH2) and LIVAGK-NH2 (LK6-NH2) were synthesized and purified (60% yield). When 3-azidopropionic acid (75% yield) reacted with the ultrashort peptides, azide-functionalized ultrashort peptides N3-IK6-NH2 and N3-LK6-NH2 were generated. Propiolic acid ester-functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG) was synthesized (98% yield). A copper-free azide-alkyne “click” reaction occurred between azide-functionalized ultrashort peptides and alkyne-functionalized PEG-propiolate. At 37°C, clear hydrogels PEG-(triazole-IK6-NH2)3 and PEG-(triazole-LK6-NH2)3 were formed. The compounds were characterized by HPLC-MS, 1H and 13C NMR. Minimum gelation concentration was 5 mg/mL for PEG-(triazole-IK6-NH2)3 and 10 mg/mL for PEG-(triazole-LK6-NH2)3. Minimum gelation time was 8 minutes for 10 mg/mL of PEG-(triazole-IK6-NH2)3 and 70 minutes for 10 mg/mL of PEG-(triazole-LK6-NH2)3. PEG-(triazole-IK6-NH2)3 hydrogel was easier to generate than parent peptide IK6-NH2 hydrogel, which had a minimum gelation concentration of 20 mg/mL and a minimum gelation time of 25 minutes. In summary, novel biocompatible and temperature-sensitive hydrogels were developed quickly and cheaply. They can potentially deliver anti-cancer drugs to treat localized surface tumors more effectively.

Awards (1)

• Fourth Award of $500 $500

Competition history

• ISEF 2015 Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design · Entry CHEM061I

Resources

• ISEF abstract page ↗

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