Anthranilamide-based Short Peptides Self-Assembled Hydrogels as Antibacterial Agents

In this study, we describe the synthesis and molecular properties of anthranilamide-based short peptides which were synthesised via ring opening of isatoic anhydride in excellent yields. These short peptides were incorporated as low molecular weight gelators (LMWG), bola amphiphile, and C3-symmetric molecules to form hydrogels in low concentrations (0.07–0.30% (w/v)). The critical gel concentration (CGC), viscoelastic properties, secondary structure, and fibre morphology of these short peptides were influenced by the aromaticity of the capping group or by the presence of electronegative substituent (namely fluoro) and hydrophobic substituent (such as methyl) in the short peptides. In addition, the hydrogels showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus 38 and moderate toxicity against HEK cells in vitro

Design, synthesis, and characterisation of glyoxylamide-based short peptides as self-assembled gels

The synthesis and supramolecular properties of novel glyoxylamide-based short peptides formed via the ring-opening reaction of N-acetylisatins in solution phase are described. The short peptides self-assembled into gels, which were examined for their mechanical and morphological characteristics using multiple spectroscopic and microscopy techniques. The critical gel concentration and mechanical strength of the self-assembled gels were influenced by the presence of electronegative substituents (such as fluoro, in 5b) or hydrophobic substituents (such as bromo, 5d) respectively in the short peptides. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that these compounds were non-toxic to mammalian cells