Protein-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering.

The tunable mechanical and structural properties of protein-based hydrogels make them excellent scaffolds for tissue engineering and repair. Moreover, using protein-based components provides the option to insert sequences associated with promoting both cellular adhesion to the substrate and overall cell growth. Protein-based hydrogel components are appealing for their structural designability, specific biological functionality, and stimuli-responsiveness.

Template-constrained cyclic sulfopeptide HIV-1 entry inhibitors.

Template-constrained cyclic sulfopeptides that inhibit HIV-1 entry were rationally designed based on a loop from monoclonal antibody (mAb) 412d. A focused set of sulfopeptides was synthesized using Fmoc-Tyr(SO3DCV)-OH (DCV = 2,2-dichlorovinyl). Three cyclic sulfopeptides that inhibit entry of HIV-1 and complement the activity of known CCR5 antagonists were identified.