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Sambani K, Kontomaris SV, Yova D. Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of Elastin Nanofibers Self-Assembly. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4313. [PMID: 37374496 DOI: 10.3390/ma16124313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein, providing elasticity to the organs, such as skin, blood vessels, lungs and elastic ligaments, presenting self-assembling ability to form elastic fibers. The elastin protein, as a component of elastin fibers, is one of the major proteins found in connective tissue and is responsible for the elasticity of tissues. It provides resilience to the human body, assembled as a continuous mesh of fibers that require to be deformed repetitively and reversibly. Thus, it is of great importance to investigate the development of the nanostructural surface of elastin-based biomaterials. The purpose of this research was to image the self-assembling process of elastin fiber structure under different experimental parameters such as suspension medium, elastin concentration, temperature of stock suspension and time interval after the preparation of the stock suspension. atomic force microscopy (AFM) was applied in order to investigate how different experimental parameters affected fiber development and morphology. The results demonstrated that through altering a number of experimental parameters, it was possible to affect the self-assembly procedure of elastin fibers from nanofibers and the formation of elastin nanostructured mesh consisting of naturally occurring fibers. Further clarification of the contribution of different parameters on fibril formation will enable the design and control of elastin-based nanobiomaterials with predetermined characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki Sambani
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Stylianos Vasileios Kontomaris
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Metropolitan College, 15125 Athens, Greece
- BioNanoTec Ltd., 2404 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dido Yova
- Biomedical Optics and Applied Biophysics Laboratory, Division of Electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrooptics and Electronic Materials, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou, 15780 Athens, Greece
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2
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Pramounmat N, Asaei S, Hostert JD, Young K, von Recum HA, Renner JN. Grafting of short elastin-like peptides using an electric field. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18682. [PMID: 36333395 PMCID: PMC9636273 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-grafted elastin has found a wide range of uses such as sensing, tissue engineering and capture/release applications because of its ability to undergo stimuli-responsive phase transition. While various methods exist to control surface grafting in general, it is still difficult to control orientation as attachment occurs. This study investigates using an electric field as a new approach to control the surface-grafting of short elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). Characterization of ELP grafting to gold via quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, atomic force microscopy and temperature ramping experiments revealed that the charge/hydrophobicity of the peptides, rearrangement kinetics and an applied electric field impacted the grafted morphology of ELP. Specifically, an ELP with a negative charge on the opposite end of the surface-binding moiety assembled in a more upright orientation, and a sufficient electric field pushed the charge away from the surface compared to when the same peptide was assembled in no electric field. In addition, this study demonstrated that assembling charged ELP in an applied electric field impacts transition behavior. Overall, this study reveals new strategies for achieving desirable and predictable surface properties of surface-bound ELP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttanit Pramounmat
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Sogol Asaei
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Jacob D. Hostert
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | | | - Horst A. von Recum
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Julie N. Renner
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
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Pramounmat N, Loney CN, Kim C, Wiles L, Ayers KE, Kusoglu A, Renner JN. Controlling the Distribution of Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Ionomer with Elastin-like Polypeptide. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:43649-43658. [PMID: 31644259 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b11160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Proton-exchange-membrane (PEM)-based devices are promising technologies for hydrogen production and electricity generation. Currently, the amount of expensive platinum catalyst used in these devices must be reduced to be cost-competitive with other technologies. These devices typically contain Nafion ionomer thin films in the catalyst layers, which are responsible for transporting protons and gaseous species to and from electrochemically active sites. The morphology of the Nafion ionomer thin films in the catalyst layers with reduced platinum loading is impacted by interactions with the catalyst and the confinement to nanometer thicknesses, which leads to performance losses in PEM-based devices. In this study, an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) is designed to modulate the morphology of Nafion ionomer on platinum surfaces. The ELP shows an ability to assemble into a monolayer on platinum and change the ionomer interaction with platinum, thereby modifying its thin-film structure and improving the Nafion ionomer coverage. As a proof of concept, an ELP-modified catalyst ink was prepared and morphological differences were observed. Overall, we discovered an engineered ELP that can modulate the ionomer-catalyst interface in the electrodes of PEM-based devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttanit Pramounmat
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - Charles N Loney
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - ChulOong Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
| | - Luke Wiles
- Nel Hydrogen Inc. , 10 Technology Drive , Wallingford , Connecticut 06492 , United States
| | - Katherine E Ayers
- Nel Hydrogen Inc. , 10 Technology Drive , Wallingford , Connecticut 06492 , United States
| | - Ahmet Kusoglu
- Energy Conversion Group, Energy Technologies Area , Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , 1 Cyclotron Road, MS70-108B , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States
| | - Julie N Renner
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio 44106 , United States
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Bandiera A, Passamonti S, Dolci LS, Focarete ML. Composite of Elastin-Based Matrix and Electrospun Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Fibers: A Potential Smart Drug Delivery System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:127. [PMID: 30258842 PMCID: PMC6143670 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive hydrogel matrices are inspiring manifold applications in controlled delivery of bioactive compounds. Elastin-derived polypeptides form hydrogel matrices that may release bioactive moieties as a function of local increase of active elastases, as it would occur in several processes like inflammation. In view of the development of a patch for healing wounds, recombinant elastin-based polypeptides were combined with a proteolysis-resistant scaffold, made of electrospun poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibers. The results of this study demonstrated the compatibility of these two components. An efficient procedure to obtain a composite material retaining the main features of each component was established. The release of the elastin moiety was monitored by means of a simple protocol. Our data showed that electrospun PLLA can form a composite with fusion proteins bound to elastin-derived polypeptides. Therefore, our approach allows designing a therapeutic agent delivery platform to realize devices capable of responding and interacting with biological systems at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luisa Stella Dolci
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Focarete
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Li L, Li NK, Tu Q, Im O, Mo CK, Han W, Fuss WH, Carroll NJ, Chilkoti A, Yingling YG, Zauscher S, López GP. Functional Modification of Silica through Enhanced Adsorption of Elastin-Like Polypeptide Block Copolymers. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:298-306. [PMID: 29195275 PMCID: PMC5809277 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A powerful tool for controlling interfacial properties and molecular architecture relies on the tailored adsorption of stimuli-responsive block copolymers onto surfaces. Here, we use computational and experimental approaches to investigate the adsorption behavior of thermally responsive polypeptide block copolymers (elastin-like polypeptides, ELPs) onto silica surfaces, and to explore the effects of surface affinity and micellization on the adsorption kinetics and the resultant polypeptide layers. We demonstrate that genetic incorporation of a silica-binding peptide (silaffin R5) results in enhanced adsorption of these block copolymers onto silica surfaces as measured by quartz crystal microbalance and ellipsometry. We find that the silaffin peptide can also direct micelle adsorption, leading to close-packed micellar arrangements that are distinct from the sparse, patchy arrangements observed for ELP micelles lacking a silaffin tag, as evidenced by atomic force microscopy measurements. These experimental findings are consistent with results of dissipative particle dynamics simulations. Wettability measurements suggest that surface immobilization hampers the temperature-dependent conformational change of ELP micelles, while adsorbed ELP unimers (i.e., unmicellized block copolymers) retain their thermally responsive property at interfaces. These observations provide guidance on the use of ELP block copolymers as building blocks for fabricating smart surfaces and interfaces with programmable architecture and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linying Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Nan K. Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Qing Tu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Owen Im
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Chia-Kuei Mo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Wei Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - William H. Fuss
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, U.S.A
| | - Nick J. Carroll
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Ashutosh Chilkoti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Yaroslava G. Yingling
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Stefan Zauscher
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
| | - Gabriel P. López
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- NSF Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Durham NC 27708, U.S.A
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, U.S.A
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Liang Y, Li L, Scott RA, Kiick KL. Polymeric Biomaterials: Diverse Functions Enabled by Advances in Macromolecular Chemistry. Macromolecules 2017; 50:483-502. [PMID: 29151616 PMCID: PMC5687278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.6b02389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Biomaterials have been extensively used to leverage beneficial outcomes in various therapeutic applications, such as providing spatial and temporal control over the release of therapeutic agents in drug delivery as well as engineering functional tissues and promoting the healing process in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This perspective presents important milestones in the development of polymeric biomaterials with defined structures and properties. Contemporary studies of biomaterial design have been reviewed with focus on constructing materials with controlled structure, dynamic functionality, and biological complexity. Examples of these polymeric biomaterials enabled by advanced synthetic methodologies, dynamic chemistry/assembly strategies, and modulated cell-material interactions have been highlighted. As the field of polymeric biomaterials continues to evolve with increased sophistication, current challenges and future directions for the design and translation of these materials are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingkai Liang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Linqing Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Scott
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Nemours-Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Department of Biomedical Research, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Kristi L. Kiick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE, 19711, USA
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7
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Syntheses of natural and deuterated desmosines via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Tetrahedron 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2015.01.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hughes LA, Gaston J, McAlindon K, Woodhouse KA, Thibeault SL. Electrospun fiber constructs for vocal fold tissue engineering: effects of alignment and elastomeric polypeptide coating. Acta Biomater 2015; 13:111-20. [PMID: 25462850 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2014.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Vocal fold lamina propria extracellular matrix (ECM) is highly aligned and when injured, becomes disorganized with loss of the tissue's critical biomechanical properties. This study examines the effects of electrospun fiber scaffold architecture and elastin-like polypeptide (ELP4) coating on human vocal fold fibroblast (HVFF) behavior for applications toward tissue engineering the vocal fold lamina propria. Electrospun Tecoflex™ scaffolds were made with aligned and unaligned fibers, and were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and uniaxial tensile testing. ELP4 was successfully adsorbed onto the scaffolds; HVFFs were seeded and their viability, proliferation, morphology and gene expression were characterized. Aligned and unaligned scaffolds had initial elastic moduli of ∼14 MPa, ∼5 MPa and ∼0.3 MPa, ∼0.6 MPa in the preferred and cross-preferred directions, respectively. Scaffold topography had an effect on the orientation of the cells, with HVFFs seeded on aligned scaffolds having a significantly different (p<0.001) angle of orientation than HVFFs cultured on unaligned scaffolds. This same effect and significant difference (p<0.001) was seen on aligned and unaligned scaffolds coated with ELP4. Scaffold alignment and ELP4 coating impacted ECM gene expression. ELP4 coating, and aligned scaffolds upregulated elastin synthesis when tested on day 7 without a concomitant upregulation of collagen III synthesis. Collectively, results indicate that aligned electrospun scaffolds and ELP4 coating are promising candidates in the development of biodegradeable vocal fold lamina propria constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay A Hughes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, 201 Dupuis Hall, 19 Division Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Joel Gaston
- Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 5118 WIMR, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Katherine McAlindon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, 201 Dupuis Hall, 19 Division Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Kimberly A Woodhouse
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, 201 Dupuis Hall, 19 Division Street, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Susan L Thibeault
- Departments of Surgery, Biomedical Engineering and Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 5107 WIMR, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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Lau HK, Kiick KL. Opportunities for multicomponent hybrid hydrogels in biomedical applications. Biomacromolecules 2015; 16:28-42. [PMID: 25426888 PMCID: PMC4294583 DOI: 10.1021/bm501361c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels provide mechanical support and a hydrated environment that offer good cytocompatibility and controlled release of molecules, and myriad hydrogels thus have been studied for biomedical applications. In the past few decades, research in these areas has shifted increasingly to multicomponent hydrogels that better capture the multifunctional nature of native biological environments and that offer opportunities to selectively tailor materials properties. This review summarizes recent approaches aimed at producing multicomponent hydrogels, with descriptions of contemporary chemical and physical approaches for forming networks, and of the use of both synthetic and biologically derived molecules to impart desired properties. Specific multicomponent materials with enhanced mechanical properties are presented, as well as materials in which multiple biological functions are imparted for applications in tissue engineering, cancer treatment, and gene therapies. The progress in the field suggests significant promise for these approaches in the development of biomedically relevant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Kuen Lau
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and ‡Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark Delaware 19716, United States
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Srokowski EM, Woodhouse KA. Evaluation of the bulk platelet response and fibrinogen interaction to elastin-like polypeptide coatings. J Biomed Mater Res A 2013; 102:540-51. [DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Revised: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Srokowski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Ontario Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Ontario Canada
| | - Kimberly A. Woodhouse
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Ontario Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Ontario Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering; Queen's University; Ontario Canada
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