Two Complementary Approaches for the Controlled Release of Biomolecules Immobilized via Coiled-Coil Interactions: Peptide Core Mutations and Multivalent Presentation

We have developed a heterodimeric coiled-coil system based on two complementary peptides, namely (EVSALEK)(5) and (ICVSALKE)(s), or E and K, for the attachment of E-tagged biomolecules onto K-decorated biomaterials. We here explore two approaches to control the strength and the stability of the E/K coiled-coil complex, and thus its potential for the controlled release of biomolecules. Those are Leucine-to-Alanine mutations in the K peptide (4 peptides with 0 to 3 mutations) and multivalent presentation of the E peptide (6 bio-objects from monomeric to dimeric and n-meric). Using E-tagged growth factors and nanoparticles as models, SPR-based assays performed under continuous flow indicated that the release rate was strongly affected by both approaches independently, and that the strength of the capture could be finely tuned over a wide range (apparent dissociation constant from 0.12 pM to 270 nM). Further release assays carried out in well-plates showed that the multivalent presentation only had a significant influence in this setup since the wells were not rinsed under continuous flow.