NAIROBI: iNjectable suprAmolecular peptIde hydRogels for cOntrolled release of BioactIves

This project builds on previously developed biocompatible and biodegradable hexapeptide sequences
capable of forming injectable hydrogels under physiologically relevant conditions. These peptide
based hydrogels have been shown to display extended in vivo release properties after subcutaneous
injection, but unfortunately with time windows of 3 to 4 days, which limits their broader clinical
potential. Because peptide-based hydrogels are so-called ‘soft materials’, we aim to modulate and
strengthen the supramolecular assembly of our validated hydrogels and consequently enlarge the
release window of the encapsulated cargo, whilst maintaining mechanical advantages over chemically
crosslinked materials. With the objective to preserve the injectability and the biocompatibility of the
materials, we envisage the introduction of additional non-covalent interactions within the hydrogel
network by means of host-guest interactions between adjacent fibers. Hence, this project takes up
the challenge of correlating the behavior of unloaded peptide hydrogels with drug-loaded hydrogels,
as well as to correlate in vitro with in vivo behavior. As a specific therapeutic application, highly
complementary in vivo release studies (by microSPECT) and ex vivo biodistribution (by mass
spectrometry imaging) of labeled and unlabeled opioid peptides, respectively, will be carried out.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the co-formulations will be verified in in vivo pain models.