Magnetic Dehydrodipeptide-Based Self-Assembled Hydrogels for Theragnostic Applications

Magnetic Dehydrodipeptide-Based Self-Assembled Hydrogels for Theragnostic Applications

Blog Article

Self-assembled peptide hydrogels have read more emerged in recent years as the new paradigm in biomaterials research.We have contributed to this field the development of hydrogels based on dehydrodipeptides N-capped with naproxen.The dehydrodipeptide hydrogels can be loaded with drugs, thus being potential nanocarriers for drug delivery.

In this work novel dehydrodipeptides containing tyrosine and aspartic acid amino acid residues N-capped with naproxen and C-terminal dehydrophenylalanine were prepared and characterized.Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were incorporated into the dehydrodipeptide-based hydrogels and their effect on the self-assembly, structure and rheological and magnetic properties of the hydrogels was studied.Magnetic hydrogels, with incorporated SPIONs, displayed here concentration-dependent T2-MRI contrast enhancement.

Moreover, upon magnetic excitation (alternating magnetic field –AMF–) the SPIONs were able to generate a significant amount of heat.Hence, magnetic hyperthermia can be used as a remote trigger for release of drug cargos and SPIONs incorporated into the self-assembled dehydrodipeptide hydrogels.