Polypeptide compositions and methods of using the same
Disclosed herein are polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence of {[VPGVG] 4 IPGVG} n , wherein n is an integer greater than 1. The polypeptides can be crosslinked to from biocompatible hydrogels with tunable and desirable mechanical properties. The polypeptides and hydrogels can be used in a variety of biomedical applications including treatment of bleeding, treatment of soft tissue injury, injectable filler, and tissue adhesives.
1. A composition comprising:
a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of {[VPGVG] 4 IPGVG} n , wherein n is an integer greater than 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), and wherein the polypeptide comprises a first cysteine-containing peptide linked to a first side of the amino acid sequence of {[VPGVG] 4 IPGVG} n (SEQ ID NO: 2); and
b) 2-hydroxy-1-(4-(hydroxyethoxy) phenyl)-2-methyl-1-propanone.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein n is in the range of 10-28.
3. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a second cysteine-containing peptide linked to a second side of the amino acid sequence of {[VPGVG] 4 IPGVG} n (SEQ ID NO: 2).
4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the first cysteine-containing peptide or the second cysteine-containing peptide comprises an amino acid sequence of KCTS (SEQ ID NO: 6).
5. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an amino acid sequence of RGD.
6. A hydrogel comprising a photo-crosslinked composition of claim 1 .
7. The hydrogel of claim 6 , wherein the polypeptide is present at a concentration between 5% and 30% (w/v).
8. The hydrogel of claim 6 , having extensibility up to 500%.
9. The hydrogel of claim 6 , having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5-10 kPa.
10. The hydrogel of claim 6 , having a tensile strength in the range of 4 to 20 kPa.
11. The hydrogel of claim 6 , having a compressive modulus of 1 to 20 kPa.
12. The hydrogel of claim 6 , further comprising a hemostatic agent selected from the group consisting of silica nanoparticles, blood coagulation factors, prothrombin, thrombin, fibrinogen, fibrin, gelatin, collagen, polysaccharide, and cellulose.
13. The hydrogel of claim 6 , further comprising an antibacterial agent selected from the group consisting of silver nanoparticles, copper oxide nanoparticles, nanoparticle-carried antibiotic drugs, penicillins, cephalosporins, penems, carbapenems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, macrolides, tetracyclins, lincosides, quinolones, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, metronidazole, rifampin, isoniazid, spectinomycin, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazole.
14. The hydrogel of claim 6 , further comprising one or more biological cells.
15. The hydrogel of claim 6 , produced by crosslinking the polypeptide in the presence of the photoinitiator under light irradiation.
16. A tissue scaffold comprising a hydrogel of claim 6 and at least one biological cell.
17. A method of treating bleeding or soft-tissue injury, the method comprising contacting a site of bleeding or soft-tissue injury with a hydrogel of claim 6 and a hemostatic agent.