Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Hydrogelators Containing Acetylene Group and Their Antibacterial Properties

In this study, hydrogelators of the L- and D-form of NapFF containing acetylene groups at the C-terminus peptides (labeled peptides 1 and 2, respectively) were synthesized and tested for their self-assembly behavior and biological activity, specifically antibacterial and mammalian cell cytotoxicity. These peptides were also tested for their biological properties. Peptides were formulated using solid-phase peptide synthesis and characterized with liquid chromatographymass spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, antibacterial assays with E. coli, and mammalian toxicity assays using HeLa and T98 cells that were obtained from ATCC. The metabolism of peptides 1 and 2 was also determined using the SMARTCyp Cytochrome P450 Metabolism Prediction Server. Carbon potion numbers 39, 37, and 26 were found to be the most possible metabolic sites for oxidation predicted using SMARTCyp. Results confirmed the synthesis of the expected chemistry and nanometer self-assembly of peptides 1 and 2 resembling that of a natural extracellular matrix. Moreover, in vitro results showed significant antibacterial activity of peptides 1 and 2 against E. coli without inducing significant mammalian cell toxicity. In this manner, results from this study highlight the promise of these peptides for a wide range of medical applications which should be further studied.