Micrometer-sized gel drops can provide the extracellular architecture needed for cells to grow and proliferate. The cell-carrying gels, made of self-assembling ultrashort peptides that form supportive nanofiber networks, might be injected into ischemic tissue in need of revival with new blood vessels.

“Our microgels are unique because they are made of only four amino acids, which is the shortest self-assembling peptide used to fabricate microgels so far,” says KAUST bioengineer Charlotte Hauser, who led the study. “This ultrashort structure reduces the cost and time for peptide synthesis.”

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Image: Cell-carrying gels made of self-assembling ultrashort peptides can produce human-like tissues that can be used for regenerative therapies.
© 2021 KAUST; Gustavo Ramirez Calderon.