Peptoid-Based Microsphere Coatings for Biomaterial Applications

Peptoids are peptidomimetic oligomers that predominantly harness similarities to peptides for biomimetic functionality. The incorporation of chiral, aromatic side chains in the peptoid sequence allows for the formation of distinct secondary structures and self-assembly into supramolecular assemblies, including microspheres. Peptoid microspheres can be coated onto substrates for potential use in biosensor technologies, tissue engineering platforms, and drug-delivery systems. They have the potential for use in biomedical applications due to their resistance to proteolytic degradation and low immunogenicity. This dissertation focuses on the physical characteristics and robustness of the peptoid microsphere coatings in various physiological conditions, along with their ability to serve as ELISA microarray and tissue engineering substrates. We have shown that the peptoid microspheres are suitable substrates for layer-by-layer technologies to create biomimetic artificial extracellular matrices for tissue engineering. Overall, this study demonstrates that peptoid microsphere coatings are suitable materials for many biological applications