The effect of ionic strength on the mechanical, structural and transport properties of peptide hydrogels

It is found that the elastic modulus of a peptide hydrogel increases linearly with the logarithm of its ionic strength. This result indicates that the elastic modulus of this class of hydrogels can be tuned by the ionic strength in a highly predictable manner. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies reveal that higher ionic strength leads to thinner but more rigid peptide fibers that are packed more densely. The self-diffusion coefficient of small molecules inside the hydrogel decreases linearly with its ionic strength, but this decrease is mainly a salt effect rather than diffusion barriers imposed by the hydrogel matrix.