Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism

Among the diversity of existing supramolecular hydrogels, nucleic acid-based hydrogels are of particular interest for potential drug delivery and tissue engineering applications because of their inherent biocompatibility. Hydrogel performance is directly related to the nanostructure and the self-ass...

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Main Authors: Angelerou, Maria G.F., Frederix, Pim W.J.M., Wallace, Matthew, Yang, Bin, Rodger, Alison, Adams, Dave J., Marlow, Maria, Zelzer, Mischa
Format: Article
Published: American Chemical Society 2018
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52479/
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author Angelerou, Maria G.F.
Frederix, Pim W.J.M.
Wallace, Matthew
Yang, Bin
Rodger, Alison
Adams, Dave J.
Marlow, Maria
Zelzer, Mischa
author_facet Angelerou, Maria G.F.
Frederix, Pim W.J.M.
Wallace, Matthew
Yang, Bin
Rodger, Alison
Adams, Dave J.
Marlow, Maria
Zelzer, Mischa
author_sort Angelerou, Maria G.F.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Among the diversity of existing supramolecular hydrogels, nucleic acid-based hydrogels are of particular interest for potential drug delivery and tissue engineering applications because of their inherent biocompatibility. Hydrogel performance is directly related to the nanostructure and the self-assembly mechanism of the material, an aspect that is not well-understood for nucleic acid-based hydrogels in general and has not yet been explored for cytosine-based hydrogels in particular. Herein, we use a broad range of experimental characterization techniques along with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to demonstrate the complementarity and applicability of both approaches for nucleic acid-based gelators in general and propose the self-assembly mechanism for a novel supramolecular gelator, N4-octanoyl-2′-deoxycytidine. The experimental data and the MD simulation are in complete agreement with each other and demonstrate the formation of a hydrophobic core within the fibrillar structures of these mainly water-containing materials. The characterization of the distinct duality of environments in this cytidine-based gel will form the basis for further encapsulation of both small hydrophobic drugs and biopharmaceuticals (proteins and nucleic acids) for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
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spelling nottingham-524792020-05-04T19:40:28Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52479/ Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism Angelerou, Maria G.F. Frederix, Pim W.J.M. Wallace, Matthew Yang, Bin Rodger, Alison Adams, Dave J. Marlow, Maria Zelzer, Mischa Among the diversity of existing supramolecular hydrogels, nucleic acid-based hydrogels are of particular interest for potential drug delivery and tissue engineering applications because of their inherent biocompatibility. Hydrogel performance is directly related to the nanostructure and the self-assembly mechanism of the material, an aspect that is not well-understood for nucleic acid-based hydrogels in general and has not yet been explored for cytosine-based hydrogels in particular. Herein, we use a broad range of experimental characterization techniques along with molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to demonstrate the complementarity and applicability of both approaches for nucleic acid-based gelators in general and propose the self-assembly mechanism for a novel supramolecular gelator, N4-octanoyl-2′-deoxycytidine. The experimental data and the MD simulation are in complete agreement with each other and demonstrate the formation of a hydrophobic core within the fibrillar structures of these mainly water-containing materials. The characterization of the distinct duality of environments in this cytidine-based gel will form the basis for further encapsulation of both small hydrophobic drugs and biopharmaceuticals (proteins and nucleic acids) for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. American Chemical Society 2018-06-12 Article PeerReviewed Angelerou, Maria G.F., Frederix, Pim W.J.M., Wallace, Matthew, Yang, Bin, Rodger, Alison, Adams, Dave J., Marlow, Maria and Zelzer, Mischa (2018) Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism. Langmuir, 34 (23). pp. 6912-6921. ISSN 1520-5827 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00646 doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00646 doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00646
spellingShingle Angelerou, Maria G.F.
Frederix, Pim W.J.M.
Wallace, Matthew
Yang, Bin
Rodger, Alison
Adams, Dave J.
Marlow, Maria
Zelzer, Mischa
Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title_full Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title_fullStr Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title_full_unstemmed Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title_short Supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
title_sort supramolecular nucleoside-based gel: molecular dynamics simulation and characterization of its nanoarchitecture and self-assembly mechanism
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52479/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52479/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52479/