Unusual Two‐Step Assembly of a Minimalistic Dipeptide‐Based Functional Hypergelator

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Abstract
Self‐assembled peptide hydrogels represent the realization of peptide nanotechnology into biomedical products. There is a continuous quest to identify the simplest building blocks and optimize their critical gelation concentration (CGC). Herein, a minimalistic, de novo dipeptide, Fmoc‐Lys(Fmoc)‐Asp, as an hydrogelator with the lowest CGC ever reported, almost fourfold lower as compared to that of a large hexadecapeptide previously described, is reported. The dipeptide self‐assembles through an unusual and unprecedented two‐step process as elucidated by solid‐state NMR and molecular dynamics simulation. The hydrogel is cytocompatible and supports 2D/3D cell growth. Conductive composite gels composed of Fmoc‐Lys(Fmoc)‐Asp and a conductive polymer exhibit excellent DNA binding. Fmoc‐Lys(Fmoc)‐Asp exhibits the lowest CGC and highest mechanical properties when compared to a library of dipeptide analogues, thus validating the uniqueness of the molecular design which confers useful properties for various potential applications.
Funding Information
  • National Basic Research Program of China (2016YFA0501702)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (11674065)
  • Tel Aviv University

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