Work

Multifunctional SilkTropoelastin Biomaterial Systems

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: New multifunctional, degradable, polymeric biomaterial systems would provide versatile platforms to address cell and tissue needs in both in vitro and in vivo environments. While protein‐based composites or alloys are the building blocks of biological organisms, similar systems have not been largely exploited, to date, to generate ad hoc biomaterials able to control and direct biological functions by recapitulating their inherent structural and mechanical complexities. Therefore, we have recently proposed silktropoelastin material platforms that are able to conjugate a mechanically robust and durable protein, silk, to a highly flexible and biologically active protein, tropoelastin. This review focuses on the elucidation of the interactions between silk and tropoelastin to control the structure of the material its properties, and ultimately functions. In addition, an approach is provided for novel material designs to provide tools to control biological outcomes through surface roughness, elasticity, and net charge for neuronal and mesenchymal stem‐cell‐based tissue engineering.

Source: Israel Journal of Chemistry

DOI: 10.1002/ijch.201300082

Authors: Chiara E. Ghezzi, Jelena Rnjak‐Kovacina, Anthony S. Weiss, David L. Kaplan

Institutions: Tufts University, The University of Sydney

Language: English

Topic: Silk-based biomaterials and applications

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Awards: G4494122553, G5463635937, Electrotherapeutic strategies for connective tissue repair, G8138151485, Tissue Engineering Resource Center