Enzymatic Hydrogelation of Small Molecules
ZHIMOU YANG, GAOLIN LIANG, AND BING XU
In this Account, we discuss the use of enzymes to trigger and control the self-assembly of small molecules for hydrogelation,which takes place in vitro or in vivo, extra- or intracellularly. Using phosphatase, thermolysin, -lactamase, and phosphatase/kinase as examples, we illustrate the design and application of enzyme-catalyzed or -regulated formation of supramolecular hydrogels that offer a new strategy for detecting the activity of enzymes, screening for enzyme inhibitors,
typing bacteria, drug delivery systems, and controlling the fate of cells. Since the expression and distribution of enzymes differ by the types and states of cells, tissues, and organs, using an enzymatic reaction to convert precursors into hydrogelators that self-assemble into nanofibers as the matrices of the hydrogel, one can control the delivery, function, and response of a hydrogel according to a specific biological condition or environment, thus providing an accessible route to create sophisticated materials for biomedicine. Particularly, intracellular enzymatic hydrogelation of small molecules offers a unique means for scientists to integrate molecular self-assembly with inherent enzymatic reactions inside cells for developing new biomaterials and therapeutics at the supramolecular level and improving the basic understanding of dynamic molecular selfassembly in water.
No comments:
Post a Comment