Smarter tissue and organ repair thanks to next-gen hydrogel - medicalxpress

3D Cytocompatibility of Pep 10 hydrogels with human skin fibroblasts. Credit: Advanced Functional Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202529084

A multidisciplinary team have built hydrogels built entirely from synthetic peptides so their properties can be precisely tailored through chemical design. By harnessing the power of collagen-inspired peptides and light-triggered chemistry, a University of Ottawa research team has engineered a customizable material with the potential to be a gamechanger for soft tissue repair, whether it's closing a surgical incision or sealing a traumatic wound.

In a compelling new study published in Advanced Functional Materials, the collaborative team demonstrates a new strategy for creating biomimetic, entirely peptide-based hydrogels that combine strength, adaptability, and biological compatibility. Unlike many existing biomaterials used as soft tissue adhesives, it doesn't rely on any synthetic polymers which can trigger unwanted immune responses.

This streamlined approach makes it especially attractive for future biomedical applications, according to Dr. Emilio I. Alarcón, professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine and scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

"This new body of work is a leap in the space of biomimetic materials for tissue and organ repair. One of the most important aspects of this research is that we develop a stand-alone peptide-based material for tissue bonding," he says.

Lab-designed materials that mimic nature

Dr. Alarcón says the uOttawa team's latest study paves the way for researchers across the globe to explore using materials composed entirely by peptides as "the next generation of regenerative platforms." Peptides are short chains of amino acids that form the building blocks of proteins.

In the lab's latest advance, carefully designed peptides were inspired by the triple-helix structure of natural collagen but were produced synthetically, allowing for fine control over composition, performance, and safety.

The power of light

One of the key innovations lies in how these peptides assemble and lock together, according to Dr. Alarcón, who is in the Faculty's Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology Department. Once dissolved in a buffer solution, the designed peptides spontaneously organize themselves into structures that create the foundation of the hydrogel.

Then, to further strengthen the material, the researchers use a light-activated chemical reaction. When exposed to light, specific chemical groups rapidly form stable connections, transforming the soft material into a flexible and durable gel for soft tissue repair.

The light-activated hydrogel they created is customizable—a defining hallmark of the emerging era of personalized medicine. Researchers can make various adjustments, like increasing peptide concentrations or altering molecular junctions. This allows precise control over the material's properties.

Tunable strength and biomedical performance

Importantly, the team's peptide-based hydrogels demonstrated bonding strength comparable to commercially available tissue adhesives such as LiquiBand. This means the material can effectively close wounds on the human body and hold tissues together under realistic conditions.

Lab tests showed that the materials are cell friendly and biodegradable, allowing them to safely break down in the body over time.

Alex Ross, a Ph.D. candidate who is one of two primary authors of the newly published study, says this kind of biocompatibility is essential for any material entering or interacting with the body.

"Biodegradability is useful as it means the material doesn't have to be removed later—for example, getting sutures removed—and also contributes to the safety profile as things the body can clear out are much less likely to pose toxicity," Ross says.

Daniel Nguyen, the paper's other primary author, expands on this point: "If you put something inside the body, you want it to be as unobtrusive as possible. It shouldn't harm cells, and it shouldn't stay there forever. That matters because materials that linger or irritate tissue can slow healing or lead to complications. Because our material is made from collagen-inspired peptides, the body can break it down using the enzymes it uses to remodel natural tissue."

Both Ross and Nguyen are members of the BioEngineering and Therapeutic Solutions (BEaTS) lab directed by Drs. Erik J. Suuronen and Alarcón. The lab includes cardiac surgeon Dr. Marc Ruel.  

Provided by University of Ottawa 

by David McFadden, University of Ottawa

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan 

Source: Smarter tissue and organ repair thanks to next-gen hydrogel