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Identifier

000346143

Title

Design and study of self-assembling peptides as scaffolds for biomineralization and tissue engineering

Alternative Title

Σχεδιασμόςκαι μελέτη αυτοοργανομένων πεπτιδίων ως ικρίωματων για βιοεναλάτωση και μηχανική ιστών

Author

Καλλούδη, Εριφύλη Φ

Thesis advisor

Μητράκη, Αννα

Abstract

The present thesis focuses on the ‘Design and Study of self-assembling peptides as scaffolds for biomineralization and tissue engineering’.
Self-assembling peptides are biocompatible and water soluble nanoassemblies which are formed under mild conditions and are mainly driven by noncovalent interactions. Their properties can be modulated by simple chemical modification or amino acid changes. They can also be thermally and chemically stable. They form supramolecular architectures such as ribbons, nanotubes, fibers and monolayers with nanoscale order; these structures are mainly composed of β – sheet motifs at the secondary structure level. Technologically, the peptide fibrils can serve as templates for metallization to create conducting nanowires, for mineralization and directed crystal growth and as scaffolds for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals, namely composites which also entail an organic part, often to harden or stiffen tissues. The organic part consists of a structural framework of macromolecules, very often in association with acidic macromolecules that act as a nucleation surface for biomineralization. In nature there are fibrous structures that act as framework templates, like collagen in bone and silk – like proteins in shells.|
Our work is focused on short self-assembling peptides (called “amyloid-type” peptides) made up from building blocks found in natural fibrous proteins. Based on a well-studied octapeptide building block, we designed novel peptides that contain acidic amino acids in their sequence in order to serve as nucleation sites for calcium binding. They were found to form amyloid fibres which nucleate calcium phosphates. Another group was also designed to contain the RGD (Arginine glycine aspartate) motif of fibronectin so as to allow attachment to cells.
These biomimetic self-assembling materials will be subsequently tested for biomineralization and tissue regeneration purposes.

Language

English

Subject

Biomineralization

Hydroxyapatite

Peptides

Self-assembly

Αυτο-οργάνωση

Βιοεναλάτωση

Πεπτίδια

Υδροξυαπατίτης

Issue date