A thermoresponsive hydrogel based on telechelic PEG end-capped with hydrophobic dipeptides.

The self-assembly in aqueous solution of PEG (1500 Da) telechelically end-capped with hydrophobic dipeptides has been investigated using spectroscopic, microscopic, scattering, and rheological methods. A self-assembled β-sheet fibril-based hydrogel has been identified (containing dityrosine end groups), which exhibits a gel-sol transition near body temperature. This thermo-responsive PEG-based biofunctional hydrogel is expected to have diverse potential uses in delivery or diagnostics for biomedical applications.