Development of a novel dual stimulus-responsive hydrogel using polyglutamic acid

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15343
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Hsu Yu-I 大阪大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (10757678)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ポリ（γ-グルタミン酸） / 注射可能なヒドロゲル / 自己修復 / 生分解性 / 組織工学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To utilize the stimulus-responsive gel in the medical field and environment-related fields, it is important to develop a stimulus-responsive gel that recognizes a signal molecule to change its volume. Since the mechanical strength is different for each tissue in the living body, it is necessary to develop a hydrogel having controllable mechanical strength to applicate to each tissue. In this study, stimulus-responsive hydrogels were developed based on poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA) produced by Bacillus subtilis var. natto and aim to apply it to injectable cell scaffolds. By introducing various functional groups on the PGA main chain, injectable hydrogels having controllable gelation time and gel strength, good degradation behavior, peptide release behavior, and bioadhesion were developed.

Free Research Field

高分子合成

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究ではPGAを基盤とした新規デュアル刺激応答性ハイドロゲルを創出する。温度応答性と酵素応答性を搭載したPGAゲル前駆体は申請者独自の発想であり、導入した機能性分子の導入率あるいは刺激条件を制御することにより、ハイドロゲルのゲル化時間とゲルの機械的強度を簡単に制御できた。また、酵素応答と温度応答のデュアル刺激応答ハイドロゲルは中性領域で細胞に影響の少ない添加剤（ビスマレイミド）と酵素の添加や多少の加温でゲル化時間と機械的強度が制御できる。側鎖にカルボン酸を有するPGAを主鎖とすることで生分解性機能とゲル化時間・ゲル強度の制御機能を共にスキャホールドに搭載できる点も大きな特徴である。