Electric field creation in pi-peptide nanomaterials to regulate in vitro neural cell physiology
Abstract
Supramolecular materials with electronic functions imparted by pi-conjugated organic subunits are in a technologically exciting size regime (1-100 nm) between electronic components prepared through conventional microfabrication and molecular-based electronic materials. The extension of supramolecular electronics into aqueous environments at the scale of the structural components of the extracellular matrix is not well developed. Tovar developed a powerful class of aqueous selfassembling molecules that contain pi-conjugated elements directly embedded within peptide backbones. Assembly in aqueous solution leads to the formation of pi-stacked channels within well-defined nanoscale (JACS 2008 and Chem Commun 2010) and aligned macroscale (Adv Mater 2011) structures. In the years since, Tovar has developed critical structure-function insight with respect to the regulation and control of optoelectronic processes within these nanomaterials, including the ability to foster transient electric fields upon photoexcitation (JACS 2016). This combination of functions and length scales offers unprecedented tunability of cell-stimulating hydrogel matrices and thus a compelling opportunity in biomaterials science. This project will achieve electronic modulation of nanoscale assemblies with pi-electron functionality and cellgrowth- promoting oligopeptides within biological media through (1) synthesis of self-assembling materials with biological and electronic functions and (2) characterization of neural progenitor cell fate within and cell migration on these bioelectronic nanomaterials, with and without photonic stimulation. The assembled team will be well-poised to study such materials, with strong expertise in peptide materials synthesis and assembly (Tovar) and biomaterials for neural tissue engineering (Gu) Self-assembling molecules with pi-electron functionality and cell-growth-promoting oligopeptides offer the prospect for unprecedented spatial activation of cell-stimulating hydrogel matrices. A continued systematic study of these peptide nanomaterials is hereby proposed to assess their electrical properties and to verify hypotheses concerning how nanoscale electric fields engineered into peptide-based hydrogel scaffolds will influence cell adhesion and growth. These investigations span several areas of contemporary materials science thus requiring a cooperative scientific effort among chemistry and engineering. Organic electronic materials have previously evolved from intellectual curiosities to the basis for emerging commercial products. These materials are also poised to contribute to innovative biomaterials if their electrical properties can be harnessed within size regimes comparable to extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Electroactive biomaterials are relevant to regenerating nerves, cardiac tissue and skeletal muscle, all known to respond to external electrical impulses. New electroactive biomaterials that are capable of acting both as field carriers and as better cell migration matrices will be poised to impact many emerging tissue engineering and bioenergy applications. Before these impacts can be realized, it will be critical to quantitatively characterize the specific impacts these materials impart on cell biology. This research program will provide critical insight about how optoelectronic stimulation can induce localized nanoscale electric fields that directly impact biomaterial surface charge or interfacial energy, and how these fields will influence cell response to the environment and/or each other. The proposed research will bring our versatile pi-conjugated oligopeptide assemblies to the forefront of integration with neuronal cell interfaces, and these findings could provide a significant contribution towards repair of nervous system injuries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310082
Entities
People
- John Tovar
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Johns Hopkins University
- United States Army