Phase Separation in Supramolecular Hydrogels Based on Peptide Self-Assembly from Enzyme-Coated Nanoparticles

Langmuir. 2019 Aug 20;35(33):10838-10845. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01420. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Abstract

Spatial localization of biocatalysts, such as enzymes, has recently proven to be an effective process to direct supramolecular self-assemblies in a spatiotemporal way. In this work, silica nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized covalently by alkaline phosphatase (NPs@AP) induce the localized growth of self-assembled peptide nanofibers from NPs by dephosphorylation of Fmoc-FFpY peptides (Fmoc: fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl; F: phenylalanine; Y: tyrosine; p: phosphate group). The fibrillary nanoarchitecture around NPs@AP underpins a homogeneous hydrogel, which unexpectedly undergoes a macroscopic shape change over time. This macroscopic change is due to a phase separation leading to a dense phase (in NPs and nanofibers) in the center of the vial and surrounded by a dilute one, which still contains NPs and peptide self-assemblies. We thus hypothesize that the phase separation is not a syneresis process. Such a change is only observed when the enzymes are localized on the NPs. The dense phase contracts with time until reaching a constant volume after several days. For a given phosphorylated peptide concentration, the dense phase contracts faster when the NPs@AP concentration is increased. For a given NPs@AP concentration, it condenses faster when the peptide concentration increases. We hypothesize that the appearance of a dense phase is not only due to attractive interactions between NPs@AP but also to the strong interactions of self-assembled peptide nanofibers with the enzymes, covalently fixed on the NPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Phosphatase / chemistry*
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Hydrogels
  • Peptides
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Alkaline Phosphatase