Technologies

fMLF-Based Supramolecular Hydrogels Prolong Inflammation Response:

Hydrogels of chemoattractants preserve neutrophil activity for immunomodulation

Background:

Neutrophils play a key role in combatting infection in the human body. Efficient local accumulation of neutrophils depends on gradients of N-formyl peptides, such as N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLF), to signal neutrophils to the site of infection or disease. As a chemoattractant, fMLF has been used in aqueous or heterogeneous solutions for inducing acute inflammation to slow tumor growth or treat bacterial infections. However, current fMLF delivery methods have relatively weak and transient effects and suffer from burst release and low capacity payload.

The innovative approach developed to obviate these limitations incorporates fMLF into D-peptides to create self-assembling hydrogels of multifunctional chemoattractants that maintain their potent chemotactic activity towards neutrophils. As self-delivery-drugs, the fMLF-hydrogels hold promise as cancer therapies, treatment for microbial infections, and vaccine adjuvants. The modular aspects of these scaffolds can be further implemented towards neutrophil chemotaxis inhibition, rather than promotion, for chronic inflammation and pain treatments.