Self-assembled nanofiber hydrogels for mechanoresponsive therapeutic anti-TNF alpha antibody delivery

Low molecular weight hydrogels, prepared from glycosyl-nucleoside-lipid amphiphiles, exhibit shear-thinning behaviour and reversible thermally-and mechanically-triggered sol-gel transitions. Using mechanical shear stimulation, the release of entrapped anti-TNF alpha increases and the released anti-TNF alpha demonstrates efficacy in in vitro neutralization bioassays. Delivery of anti-TNF alpha is of general interest and broad medicinal utility for treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.