Synthesis and biophysics of triple helical collagen mimetics

The properties of triple helical collagen mimetic structures were designed and investigated using synthetic and biophysical strategies. A non-natural residue N-isobutylglycine was incorporated into the collagen trimeric building blocks Gly-Pro-Nleu and Gly-Nleu-Pro. Template assembly studies were carried out to manipulate the rate and stability of triple helix folding. A series of biophysical measurements for triple helicity include CD and NMR spectroscopy, as well as thermodynamics for folding and hydration studies for representative mimetic structures. Results reveal exciting cell attachment properties of triple helical structures composed of Gly-Pro-Nleu sequences.