Light-activated thiomaleimide crosslinking stabilizes collagen mimetic peptide triple helix

Abstract

Collagen mimetic peptides (CMPs) are useful self-assembling building blocks for creating tunable biomaterials with structure and function dependent on triple helix stability. We demonstrate rapid, UV-activated stabilization of a CMP triple helix via thiomaleimide self-crosslinking and controlled by light dose, enabling precise in situ control and stabilization of peptide assemblies.