Authors:

Jonny Bouton

Date Created:

Not specified

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About Paper:

Therapeutic proteins orchestrate the signaling cascades governing wound healing as tightly regulated gradients across the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of tissue repair. Growth factors, cytokines, and matrix-remodeling enzymes are produced and degraded in precise spatiotemporal patterns; disruption results in stalled healing and chronic non-healing wounds. Exogenous protein supplementation is a logical intervention, but efficacy is limited by delivery vehicle's ability to reproduce the dynamic release 102 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON • 2026 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM TABLE OF CONTENTS profiles endogenous signaling requires. Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are valuable tools for use in biomaterials, providing spatiotemporal control of cargo release through photoinitiated ligand substitution. This project developed one such material using Ru(bpy)(tpybzald)(vsulf), dubbed RuTether, which attaches to a hydrazide-modified hyaluronic acid hydrogel (HA-HYD). RuTether's photolabile vinyl sulfone ligand conjugates to a protein cargo, creating a controllable protein delivery platform. TEM1 β-lactamase was selected as model cargo for its well-defined colorimetric reaction with nitrocefin, a chromogenic substrate whose hydrolysis product absorbs at 486nm, enabling detection of released protein. TEM1 was modified with Traut's reagent to convert surface lysines to thiols, which are clicked onto RuTether and released during photosubstitution. Activity was assessed after modification and found largely unchanged compared to unmodified TEM1.

Source:

University of Oregon / 2026

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Jonny Bouton