Elastin-Derived Peptide-Based Hydrogels as a Potential Drug Delivery System

A peptide-based hydrogel sequence was computationally predicted from the Ala-rich cross-linked domains of elastin. Three candidate peptides were subsequently synthesised and characterised as potential drug delivery vehicles. The elastin-derived peptides are Fmoc-FFAAAAKAA-NH₂, Fmoc-FFAAAKAA-NH₂, and Fmoc-FFAAAKAAA-NH₂. All three peptide sequences were able to self-assemble into nanofibers. However, only the first two could form hydrogels, which are preferred as delivery systems compared to solutions. Both of these peptides also exhibited favourable nanofiber lengths of at least 1.86 and 4.57 µm, respectively, which are beneficial for the successful delivery and stability of drugs. The shorter fibre lengths of the third peptide (maximum 0.649 µm) could have inhibited their self-assembly into the three-dimensional networks crucial to hydrogel formation.