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Merck

Hydrogels for the detection and management of protease levels.

Macromolecular bioscience (2010-07-02)
Alison G Patrick, Rein V Ulijn
ABSTRACT

The design of hydrogels that simultaneously report protease activity and remove excess protease from solution is elucidated. The hydrogels, based on amino-PEGA, combine enzyme-specific peptides flanked with FRET complimented by charged amino acid residues that facilitate protease uptake via short range electrostatic interactions. Enzymatic response was analysed using a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, two-photon microscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. An optimised elastase-responsive hydrogel resulted in lowering of elastase levels below those typical of chronic wounds. The versatility of the modular-design approach was demonstrated by development of matrix metalloprotease and chymotrypsin sensitive systems.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 20,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 10,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 6,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 3,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), average Mn 3400
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) bis(amine), Mw 2,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 3,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 10,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 6,000
Sigma-Aldrich
Poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, average Mn 2,000