Elastomeric polypentapeptides cross-linked into matrixes and fibers

Microbially prepared polypentapeptides were cross-linked by two chemical me thods. In one chemical approach, (GVGIP)(260) where G = glycine, V = valine , I = isoleucine, and P = proline with no functional groups in its side cha ins, was cross-linked using dicumyl peroxide, and reaction conditions were systematically examined. Successful cross-linking was obtained even under S evere conditions for proteins, i.e., 3 h at 120 degreesC, without having si gnificant side reactions. In the second chemical approach, two separate pol ymers, (GVGVP GVGVP GXGVP GVGVP GVGVP GVGVP)(n) where X is either E (the ca rboxylic, acid containing glutamic acid residue) or K (the lysine residue w ith an epsilon -amino function), were mixed and cross-linked using a carbod iimde reagent. The reaction temperature was found to affect the equilibrium swelling behavior of the resulting cross-linked hydrogels. In hydrogels cr oss-linked at a temperature above their hydrophobic folding and assembling transition temperature, 3D continuous filamentous microstructures were obse rved. Chemically cross-linked hydrogel fibers were also prepared and their anisotropy in swelling was confirmed. Uniaxial tensile moduli and equilibri um weight swelling ratios of the chemically cross-linked samples were compa red to those of (GVGVP)(251) and (GVGIP)(260), gamma -irradiation cross-lin ked at different Mrad doses.