Self-Assembling Peptide-Based Hydrogels in Angiogenesis

• Main Authors: Han C, Zhang Z, Sun J, Li K, Li Y, Ren C, Meng Q, Yang J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• Subjects: self‐assembling peptide; hydrogel; angiogenesis; survival; retention
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/self-assembling-peptide-based-hydrogels-in-angiogenesis-peer-reviewed-article-IJN

Chaoshan Han,1,* Zhiwei Zhang,2,* Jiacheng Sun,1 Ke Li,3 Yangxin Li,4 Chuanlu Ren,5 Qingyou Meng,4 Junjie Yang1 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine and School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; 2Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 904th Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army, Wuxi 214044, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Junjie YangDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine and School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Volker Hall G094Q, Birmingham, AL 35294, USATel [phone]Email [e-mail] MengDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 899, Pinghai Road 215006 SuzhouTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Ischemic diseases, especially in the heart and the brain, have become a serious threat to human health. Growth factor and cell therapy are emerging as promising therapeutic strategies; however, their retention and sustainable functions in the injured tissue are limited. Self-assembling peptide (SAP)-based hydrogels, mimicking the extracellular matrix, are therefore introduced to encapsulate and controllably release cells, cell-derived exosomes or growth factors, thus promoting angiogenesis and tissue recovery after ischemia. We will summarize the classification, composition and structure of SAPs, and the influencing factors for SAP gelation. Moreover, we will describe the functionalized SAPs, and the combinatorial therapy of cells, exosomes or growth factors with functionalized SAPs for angiogenic process as well as its advantage in immunogenicity and injectability. Finally, an outlook on future directions and challenges is provided.Keywords: self‐assembling peptide, hydrogel, angiogenesis, survival, retention