Agarose for mechanical control of self-assembling peptide systems

Statement of Purpose: Advances in understanding of extracellular matrix-cell interactions has informed a new generation of rationally designed biomaterials [1]. Biochemical, structural and mechanical cues, present in the native extracellular matrix drive cell behaviour. Fmoc-FRGDF/PHSRN is a rationally designed biomaterial, a self-assembling peptide that relies on π-π stacking to form a structurally fibrous network; mimicking the structure of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, Fmoc-FRGDF/PHSRN is based on key cell attachment motifs (RGD and PHSRN) from the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. Fmoc-FRGDF/PHSRN has been shown to promote cell attachment in vitro due to its structural and biochemical similarities to the native extracellular matrix [2]. A key limitation of Fmoc-FRGDF/PHSRN is that the mechanical properties, and therefore applicability to various cell types mechanbiology requirements and bioprinting, cannot be modulated. By adding an inert polysaccharide, namely Agarose in varying concentrations, the mechanical properties are modulated without disrupting the biochemical and structural properties or self-assembling gelation process.