Work

Production of self-assembling biomaterials for tissue engineering

Year: 2009

Type: review

Abstract: Self-assembling peptide-based biomaterials are being developed for use as 3D tissue engineering scaffolds and for therapeutic drug-release applications. Chemical synthesis provides custom-made peptides in small quantities, but production approaches based upon transgenic organisms might be more cost-effective for large-scale peptide production. Long lead times for developing appropriate animal clones or plant lines and potential negative public opinion are obstacles to these routes. Microbes, particularly safe organisms used in the food industry, offer a more rapid route to the large-scale production of recombinant self-assembling biomaterials. In this review, recent advances and challenges in the recombinant production of collagen, elastin and de novo designed self-assembling peptides are discussed.

Source: Trends in biotechnology

DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2009.04.002

Authors: Stuart Kyle, Amalia Aggeli, Eileen Ingham, Michael J. McPherson

Institution: University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $7,030

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council