A peptide cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel for the detection of human neutrophil elastase

Polyacrylamide hydrogel films cross-linked with the peptide sequence AAPVAAK were synthesised on piezoelectric quartz crystals. Degradation of the hydrogel films was monitored using a combination of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and electrochemical impedance measurements. The films were shown to degrade in the presence of human neutrophil elastase (HNE). The rate of degradation was directly related to the enzyme activity making the system...