seeks partners to license...
Elastin-Like Polypeptide Based
Hydrogel using Photo
Reactive Amino Acid Analogs
R
esearchers at the University of South Florida have
derived a recombinant protein-based platform
capable of forming covalently cross-linked
hydrogels, in situ, upon exposure to UV light.
Hydrogels have a wide variety of biomedical applications
ranging from tissue engineering to drug delivery. To form a
hydrogel, monomers that make up a hydrogel would be
injected in situ in a solution, followed by a reaction that
would cause the monomers to cross-link. Current crosslinking methods of hydrogels, chemically or photoreactively, limit the ability to cross-link monomers in situ.
Chemically cross-linked hydrogels must have the crosslinking reagents mixed prior to injection, severely limiting
the abilities to control hydrogel characteristics at the
cellular level. With the use of a focused source of
ultraviolet (UV) light and UV filters, photo-crosslinking is
an alternative method to crosslinking a hydrogel that
provides more control over hydrogel properties at the
cellular level, such as cross-linking density and pore size.
This method however, typically requires the conjugation of
a photo-reactive moiety, such as methacrylate, to the
monomers as well as the addition of toxic cross-linking
reagents. The use of toxic cross-linking reagents is a major
disadvantage for in vivo use of hydrogels because the
reaction to form the hydrogel cannot be carried out at the
site it is to be implanted, which means that the hydrogel
will not have an optimal fit at the implant site.
Technology Advantages:
 Non-toxic, biocompatible,
biodegradable hydrogel
 ELP monomers functionalized for
Tissue Engineering
 No need for mixing cross-linking
reagents prior to injection
Finely Tunable Hydrogels
Form in situ w/o Conjugation
of a Photo-Reactive Moiety
Our inventors have developed a hydrogel consisting of
nontoxic photo-reactive amino acid analogs incorporated
directly into an elastin-like-peptide (ELP) sequence. The
use of nontoxic photoreactive amino acid analogs allows
gel formation to take place at the site of implantation and
form to the shape of an implant site. This invention
addresses a multitude of problems that are associated with
hydrogel synthesis. Removing the need to conjugate a
functional group to the monomers makes hydrogel
synthesis an easier process and allows for better control
over the number of photo-crosslinkable sites.
Self-assembly and photo-crosslinking capabilities of a functionalized elastinAdditionally, the ELP technology will provide more
like polypeptide (ELP) based hydrogel: When the ELP solution temperature is
control over the amount of cross-linking sites within ELP increased above the transition temperature (Tt), ELP's self-assemble and can be
monomers via providing a platform for fusion proteins
photo-crosslinked upon exposure to ultraviolet light. After crosslinking, the
containing growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, and temperature is decreased below the Tt, allowing the polymer network to swell
other molecules crucial to regenerative medicine to be and form a hydrogel
used as hydrogel monomers, which making it an
attractive option for clinical use.
Tech ID #15A048
contact
University of South Florida | Technology Transfer Office| Patents & Licensing
3802 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33612-9220
813.974.0994 (office) | 813.974.8490 (fax)
[email protected] | http://www.research.usf.edu/pl/
Copyright © 2015, University of South Florida