Author(s):
Veloso, Sérgio R S ; Silva, Joana F G ; Hilliou, L. ; Moura, Cacilda ; Coutinho, Paulo J. G. ; Martins, J. A. R. ; Testa-Anta, Martín ; Salgueiriño, Verónica ; Correa-Duarte, Miguel A ; Ferreira, Paula M. T. ; Castanheira, Elisabete M. S.
Date: 2021
Persistent ID: https://hdl.handle.net/1822/69202
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): magnetic nanoparticles; magnetogels; drug delivery; magnetic gels; drug release; magnetic hyperthermia; magnetic lipogels; supramolecular hydrogels; self-assembly; nanoparticle functionalization
Description
Currently, the nanoparticle functionalization effect on supramolecular peptide-based hydrogels remains undescribed, but is expected to affect the hydrogels' self-assembly and final magnetic gel properties. Herein, two different functionalized nanoparticles: citrate-stabilized (14.4 ± 2.6 nm) and lipid-coated (8.9 ± 2.1 nm) magnetic nanoparticles, were used for the formation of dehydropeptide-based supramolecular magnetogels consisting of the ultra-short hydrogelator Cbz-L-Met-Z-ΔPhe-OH, with an assessment of their effect over gel properties. The lipid-coated nanoparticles were distributed along the hydrogel fibers, while citrate-stabilized nanoparticles were aggregated upon gelation, which resulted into a heating efficiency improvement and decrease, respectively. Further, the lipid-coated nanoparticles did not affect drug encapsulation and displayed improved drug release reproducibility compared to citrate-stabilized nanoparticles, despite the latter attaining a stronger AMF-trigger. This report points out that adsorption of nanoparticles to hydrogel fibers, which display domains that improve or do not affect drug encapsulation, can be explored as a means to optimize the development of supramolecular magnetogels to advance theranostic applications.
