137
the polypeptide concentration and the pH of water provided that
at pH = 6.6 the polymer was transformed into liquid. A wellordered 3D structure of interconnected nanofibers and thin
nanosheets was maintained by the terpolypeptide PHis 50 at
pH = 7.4, while at pH = 6.5 the structure was akin to collapsed
thick sheets with interconnecting thick fibers and larger voids,
resembling a liquid-like structure. The presence of the α-helix conformation that the increased BLG content gives to the terpolypeptide is critical for the hydrogel formation.
The synthesized material is modular since its properties can be
modified by its molecular characteristics to deliver other drugs,
rendering it very useful for a variety of biological applications such
as bone regeneration and catheters for treatment of coronary artery
disease. We intend to improve the hydrogel effectiveness by incorporating more stimuli, such as temperature and redox, to increase
selectivity for targeting cancer cells. We believe that the synergy of
material and pharmaceutical scientists, biologists, and clinical
oncologists is imperative to produce efficient DDS that possess
advanced properties and required functionalities to fight cancer.
This work is a testimony of this important function.
Acknowledgments
This work has been co-financed by the European Union and Greek
national funds through the program “Support for Researchers
with Emphasis on Young Researchers” (call code: EDBM34, ΚΕ
14995) and under the research title “Preparation and study of
innovative forms of administration of pharmaceutical molecules
targeting at improved pharmacological properties.”
References
1. Bilalis P, Skoulas D, Karatzas A, Marakis J,
Stamogiannos A, Tsimblouli C, Sereti E,
Stratikos E, Dimas K, Vlassopoulos D, Iatrou
H (2018) Self-healing pH- and enzyme
stimuli- responsive hydrogels for targeted delivery of gemcitabine to treat pancreatic cancer.
Biomacromolecules 19:3840–3852
2. Hadjichristidis N, Iatrou H, Pispas S, Pitsikalis
M (2000) Anionic polymerization: high vacuum techniques. J Polymer Sci Part A-Polymer
Chem 38:3211–3234
3. Aliferis T, Iatrou H, Hadjichristidis N (2004)
Living
polypeptides.
Biomacromolecules
5:1653–1656
4. Mavrogiorgis D, Bilalis P, Karatzas A, Skoulas
D, Fotinogiannopoulou G, Iatrou H (2014)
Controlled polymerization of histidine and synthesis of well-defined stimuli responsive polymers. Elucidation of the structure–aggregation
relationship of this highly multifunctional material. Polym Chem 5:6256–6278
5. Altunbas A, Pochan DJ (2012) Peptide-based
and polypeptide-based hydrogels for drug
delivery and tissue engineering. Top Curr Chem
310:135–167
6. Huang J, Hastings CL, Duffy GP, Kelly
HM, Raeburn J, Adams DJ, Heise A (2013)
Supramolecular hydrogels with reverse thermal
gelation properties from (oligo)tyrosine containing block copolymers. Biomacromolecules
14:200–206
Nanostructured Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery
the polypeptide concentration and the pH of water provided that
at pH = 6.6 the polymer was transformed into liquid. A wellordered 3D structure of interconnected nanofibers and thin
nanosheets was maintained by the terpolypeptide PHis 50 at
pH = 7.4, while at pH = 6.5 the structure was akin to collapsed
thick sheets with interconnecting thick fibers and larger voids,
resembling a liquid-like structure. The presence of the α-helix conformation that the increased BLG content gives to the terpolypeptide is critical for the hydrogel formation.
The synthesized material is modular since its properties can be
modified by its molecular characteristics to deliver other drugs,
rendering it very useful for a variety of biological applications such
as bone regeneration and catheters for treatment of coronary artery
disease. We intend to improve the hydrogel effectiveness by incorporating more stimuli, such as temperature and redox, to increase
selectivity for targeting cancer cells. We believe that the synergy of
material and pharmaceutical scientists, biologists, and clinical
oncologists is imperative to produce efficient DDS that possess
advanced properties and required functionalities to fight cancer.
This work is a testimony of this important function.
Acknowledgments
This work has been co-financed by the European Union and Greek
national funds through the program “Support for Researchers
with Emphasis on Young Researchers” (call code: EDBM34, ΚΕ
14995) and under the research title “Preparation and study of
innovative forms of administration of pharmaceutical molecules
targeting at improved pharmacological properties.”
References
1. Bilalis P, Skoulas D, Karatzas A, Marakis J,
Stamogiannos A, Tsimblouli C, Sereti E,
Stratikos E, Dimas K, Vlassopoulos D, Iatrou
H (2018) Self-healing pH- and enzyme
stimuli- responsive hydrogels for targeted delivery of gemcitabine to treat pancreatic cancer.
Biomacromolecules 19:3840–3852
2. Hadjichristidis N, Iatrou H, Pispas S, Pitsikalis
M (2000) Anionic polymerization: high vacuum techniques. J Polymer Sci Part A-Polymer
Chem 38:3211–3234
3. Aliferis T, Iatrou H, Hadjichristidis N (2004)
Living
polypeptides.
Biomacromolecules
5:1653–1656
4. Mavrogiorgis D, Bilalis P, Karatzas A, Skoulas
D, Fotinogiannopoulou G, Iatrou H (2014)
Controlled polymerization of histidine and synthesis of well-defined stimuli responsive polymers. Elucidation of the structure–aggregation
relationship of this highly multifunctional material. Polym Chem 5:6256–6278
5. Altunbas A, Pochan DJ (2012) Peptide-based
and polypeptide-based hydrogels for drug
delivery and tissue engineering. Top Curr Chem
310:135–167
6. Huang J, Hastings CL, Duffy GP, Kelly
HM, Raeburn J, Adams DJ, Heise A (2013)
Supramolecular hydrogels with reverse thermal
gelation properties from (oligo)tyrosine containing block copolymers. Biomacromolecules
14:200–206
Nanostructured Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery