In the present paper, we report on enzyme-initiated self-assembly of Fmoc (fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl)–tyrosine hydrogels by enzymatic dephosphorylation under physiological conditions and provide evidence for the ability to control the modulus. Upon enzyme action, a self-assembling network of interconnecting fibres is formed, observed by cryo-SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). The concentration of alkaline phosphatase added to the Fmoc–tyrosine phosphate ester precursor solution had a direct effect on the gelation time, mechanical properties and molecular arrangements as determined through oscillatory rheology, fluorescence spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy. This highly tuneable cost-effective gel system may have applications in three-dimensional cell culture.
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August 2009
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Conference Article|
July 22 2009
Controlling stiffness in nanostructured hydrogels produced by enzymatic dephosphorylation
Kate Thornton;
Kate Thornton
*School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, U.K.
†Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.
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Andrew M. Smith;
Andrew M. Smith
*School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, U.K.
†Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K.
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Catherine L.R. Merry;
Catherine L.R. Merry
*School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, U.K.
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Rein V. Ulijn
Rein V. Ulijn
1
‡WestCHEM, University of Strathclyde, Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email Rein.Ulijn@strath.ac.uk).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 01 2009
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Biochemical Society
2009
Biochem Soc Trans (2009) 37 (4): 660–664.
Article history
Received:
April 01 2009
Citation
Kate Thornton, Andrew M. Smith, Catherine L.R. Merry, Rein V. Ulijn; Controlling stiffness in nanostructured hydrogels produced by enzymatic dephosphorylation. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2009; 37 (4): 660–664. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0370660
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