Semi-wet peptide/protein array using supramolecular hydrogel

A new semi-wet peptide/protein gel array, in which peptides or proteins were entrapped in the active form, was constructed. The hierarchical structural characteristics of supramolecular hydrogel based on a glycosylated amino acid ester were demonstrated. The gel fibers were self-assembled and stabilized by multiple interactions such as β-sheet-like hydrogen-bonding networks, van der Walls packing and hydrophobic interactions. The spontaneous gel-formation and amphiphilic property of the hydrogel was applied to supramolecular semi-wet peptide/protein gel arrays that were compatible with enzyme activity assays and the screening of enzyme inhibitors.