Figure 1.

Illustration of conversion of fMLF to an fMLF-based hydrogelator (3) to induce chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro and accumulation of neutrophils in vivo. In vitro assay: 3 induces chemotaxis of murine and human neutrophils at the minimum effective concentrations of 1.13 μM and 11.3 nM, respectively. In vivo assay: the hydrogel of 3 slowly releases 3 for attracting neutrophils to the location of the hydrogel (at the dosage of 0.935 μmol per mouse). Notation: f = formyl, M = l-methionyl residue, L = l-leucyl residue, F = l-phenylalaninyl residue, 2-Nal = l-3-(2-naphthyl)-alaninyl residue and d-2-Nal = d-3-(2-naphthyl)-alaninyl residue.