1
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Xu C, Chen Y, Zhao S, Li D, Tang X, Zhang H, Huang J, Guo Z, Liu W. Mechanical Regulation of Polymer Gels. Chem Rev 2024; 124:10435-10508. [PMID: 39284130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of polymer gels devote to emerging devices and machines in fields such as biomedical engineering, flexible bioelectronics, biomimetic actuators, and energy harvesters. Coupling network architectures and interactions has been explored to regulate supportive mechanical characteristics of polymer gels; however, systematic reviews correlating mechanics to interaction forces at the molecular and structural levels remain absent in the field. This review highlights the molecular engineering and structural engineering of polymer gel mechanics and a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of mechanical regulation. Molecular engineering alters molecular architecture and manipulates functional groups/moieties at the molecular level, introducing various interactions and permanent or reversible dynamic bonds as the dissipative energy. Molecular engineering usually uses monomers, cross-linkers, chains, and other additives. Structural engineering utilizes casting methods, solvent phase regulation, mechanochemistry, macromolecule chemical reactions, and biomanufacturing technology to construct and tailor the topological network structures, or heterogeneous modulus compositions. We envision that the perfect combination of molecular and structural engineering may provide a fresh view to extend exciting new perspectives of this burgeoning field. This review also summarizes recent representative applications of polymer gels with excellent mechanical properties. Conclusions and perspectives are also provided from five aspects of concise summary, mechanical mechanism, biofabrication methods, upgraded applications, and synergistic methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenggong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Instrumentation Science and Dynamic Measurement, Ministry of Education, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
| | - Siyang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Deke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- School of materials engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Technology, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubeu University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Haili Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubeu University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Jinxia Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubeu University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Weimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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2
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Hughes MDG, West D, Wurr R, Cussons S, Cook KR, Mahmoudi N, Head D, Brockwell DJ, Dougan L. Competition between cross-linking and force-induced local conformational changes determines the structure and mechanics of labile protein networks. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 678:1259-1269. [PMID: 39357245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Folded protein hydrogels are emerging as promising new materials for medicine and healthcare applications. Folded globular proteins can be modelled as colloids which exhibit site specific cross-linking for controlled network formation. However, folded proteins have inherent mechanical stability and unfolded in response to an applied force. It is not yet understood how colloidal network theory maps onto folded protein hydrogels and whether it models the impact of protein unfolding on network properties. To address this, we study a hybrid system which contains folded proteins (patchy colloids) and unfolded proteins (biopolymers). We use a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), to explore network architecture and mechanics in folded protein hydrogels. We alter both the photo-chemical cross-linking reaction rate and the mechanical properties of the protein building block, via illumination intensity and redox removal of robust intra-protein covalent bonds, respectively. This dual approach, in conjunction with rheological and structural techniques, allows us to show that while reaction rate can 'fine-tune' the mechanical and structural properties of protein hydrogels, it is the force-lability of the protein which has the greatest impact on network architecture and rigidity. To understand these results, we consider a colloidal model which successfully describes the behaviour of the folded protein hydrogels but cannot account for the behaviour observed in force-labile hydrogels containing unfolded protein. Alternative models are needed which combine the properties of colloids (folded proteins) and biopolymers (unfolded proteins) in cross-linked networks. This work provides important insights into the accessible design space of folded protein hydrogels without the need for complex and costly protein engineering, aiding the development of protein-based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt D G Hughes
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Daniel West
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Rebecca Wurr
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, London, WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Sophie Cussons
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, UK; School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Kalila R Cook
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Spallation Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - David Head
- School of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Leeds, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, UK; School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, UK; Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, UK.
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3
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Fu Y, Lin Q, Lan R, Shao Z. Ultra-Strong Protein-Based Hydrogels via Promoting Intermolecular Entanglement of the Amorphous Region. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403376. [PMID: 39221643 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Proteins are classified as biopolymers which share similar structural features with semi-crystalline polymers. Although their unique biocompatibility facilitates the universal applications of protein-based hydrogels in the biomedical field, the mechanical performances of protein-based hydrogels fall short of practical requirements. Conventional strategies for enhancing mechanical properties focus on forming regularly folded secondary structures as analogs of crystalline regions. This concept is based on proteins as the analogy of semi-crystalline polymers, in which crystalline regions profoundly contribute to the mechanical performances. Even though the contribution of the amorphous region is equally weighted for semi-crystalline polymers, their capacity to improve the mechanical performances of protein-based structures is still undervalued. Herein, the potential of promoting the mechanical performances is explored by controlling the state of amorphous regions in protein-based hydrogels. A fibril protein is chosen, regenerated silk fibroin (RSF), as a model molecule for its similar viscoelasticity with a semi-crystalline polymer. The amorphous regions in the RSF hydrogels are transformed from extended to entangled states through a double-crosslinking method. The formation of entanglement integrates new physically crosslinked points for remarkable improvement in mechanical performances. A robust hydrogel is not only developed but also intended to provide new insights into the structural-property relationship of protein-based hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
| | - Qinrui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
| | - Ruoqi Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
- Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China
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4
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Sanchez-Fernandez A, Poon JF, Leung AE, Prévost SF, Dicko C. Stabilization of Non-Native Folds and Programmable Protein Gelation in Compositionally Designed Deep Eutectic Solvents. ACS NANO 2024; 18:18314-18326. [PMID: 38949563 PMCID: PMC11256765 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Proteins are adjustable units from which biomaterials with designed properties can be developed. However, non-native folded states with controlled topologies are hardly accessible in aqueous environments, limiting their prospects as building blocks. Here, we demonstrate the ability of a series of anhydrous deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to precisely control the conformational landscape of proteins. We reveal that systematic variations in the chemical composition of binary and ternary DESs dictate the stabilization of a wide range of conformations, that is, compact globular folds, intermediate folding states, or unfolded chains, as well as controlling their collective behavior. Besides, different conformational states can be visited by simply adjusting the composition of ternary DESs, allowing for the refolding of unfolded states and vice versa. Notably, we show that these intermediates can trigger the formation of supramolecular gels, also known as eutectogels, where their mechanical properties correlate to the folding state of the protein. Given the inherent vulnerability of proteins outside the native fold in aqueous environments, our findings highlight DESs as tailorable solvents capable of stabilizing various non-native conformations on demand through solvent design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Sanchez-Fernandez
- Center
for Research in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CiQUS),
Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade
de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela 15705, Spain
| | - Jia-Fei Poon
- European
Spallation Source, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | | | | | - Cedric Dicko
- Pure
and Applied Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
- Lund
Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-ray Science, Lund SE-22370, Sweden
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5
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Gao C, Zhang E, Bian X, Li Q, Wang C, Yang G, Jiang M, Chen G. One-Pot Fabrication of Supramolecular Synthetic Protein Hydrogel with Tissue-like Integrated Dynamic Features. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2065-2074. [PMID: 38386431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Protein-incorporated soft networks have received remarkable attention during the past several years. They possess desirable properties similar to native tissues and organs and exhibit unique advantages in applications. However, fabrication of protein-based hydrogels usually suffers from complex protein mutation and modification or chemical synthesis, which limited the scale and yield of production. Meanwhile, the lack of rationally designed noncovalent interactions in networks may result in a deficiency of the dynamic features of materials. Therefore, a highly efficient method is needed to include supramolecular interactions into protein hydrogel to generate a highly dynamic hydrogel possessing integrated tissue-like properties. Here, we report the design and construction of native protein-based supramolecular synthetic protein hydrogels through a simple and efficient one-pot polymerization of acrylamide and ligand monomers in the presence of a ligand-binding protein. The supramolecular interactions in the network yield integrated dynamic properties, including remarkable stretchability over 10,000% of their original length, ultrafast self-healing abilities within 3-4 s, tissue-like fast stress relaxation, satisfactory ability of adhesion to different living and nonliving substrates, injectability, and high biocompatibility. Furthermore, this material demonstrated potential as a biosensor to monitor small finger movements. This strategy provides a new avenue for fabricating synthetic protein hydrogels with integrated features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chendi Gao
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Ensong Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xinyu Bian
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qiaoran Li
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Chunming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine & Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Guang Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Biomass Molecular Engineering Center and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guosong Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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6
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Lu Y, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Zhao J, Ren K, Lu Z, Li J, Hao Z. Stimuli-Responsive Protein Hydrogels: Their Design, Properties, and Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4652. [PMID: 38139904 PMCID: PMC10747532 DOI: 10.3390/polym15244652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-based hydrogels are considered ideal biomaterials due to their high biocompatibility, diverse structure, and their improved bioactivity and biodegradability. However, it remains challenging to mimic the native extracellular matrices that can dynamically respond to environmental stimuli. The combination of stimuli-responsive functionalities with engineered protein hydrogels has facilitated the development of new smart hydrogels with tunable biomechanics and biological properties that are triggered by cyto-compatible stimuli. This review summarizes the recent advancements of responsive hydrogels prepared from engineered proteins and integrated with physical, chemical or biological responsive moieties. We underscore the design principles and fabrication approaches of responsive protein hydrogels, and their biomedical applications in disease treatment, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are briefly discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in this field are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yuhe Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yuhan Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jingyi Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ketong Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhao Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ziyang Hao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
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7
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Laurent H, Hughes MDG, Walko M, Brockwell DJ, Mahmoudi N, Youngs TGA, Headen TF, Dougan L. Visualization of Self-Assembly and Hydration of a β-Hairpin through Integrated Small and Wide-Angle Neutron Scattering. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4869-4879. [PMID: 37874935 PMCID: PMC10646990 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental understanding of the structure and assembly of nanoscale building blocks is crucial for the development of novel biomaterials with defined architectures and function. However, accessing self-consistent structural information across multiple length scales is challenging. This limits opportunities to exploit atomic scale interactions to achieve emergent macroscale properties. In this work we present an integrative small- and wide-angle neutron scattering approach coupled with computational modeling to reveal the multiscale structure of hierarchically self-assembled β hairpins in aqueous solution across 4 orders of magnitude in length scale from 0.1 Å to 300 nm. Our results demonstrate the power of this self-consistent cross-length scale approach and allows us to model both the large-scale self-assembly and small-scale hairpin hydration of the model β hairpin CLN025. Using this combination of techniques, we map the hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of this model self-assembled biomolecular surface with atomic resolution. These results have important implications for the multiscale investigation of aqueous peptides and proteins, for the prediction of ligand binding and molecular associations for drug design, and for understanding the self-assembly of peptides and proteins for functional biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Laurent
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
| | - Matt D. G. Hughes
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
| | - Martin Walko
- School
of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, United
Kingdom, LS2 9JT
| | - David J. Brockwell
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Tristan G. A. Youngs
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Thomas F. Headen
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, Didcot, United Kingdom, OX11 0QX
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS2
9JT
- Astbury
Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom LS2
9JT
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8
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Hughes MDG, Cussons S, Hanson BS, Cook KR, Feller T, Mahmoudi N, Baker DL, Ariëns R, Head DA, Brockwell DJ, Dougan L. Building block aspect ratio controls assembly, architecture, and mechanics of synthetic and natural protein networks. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5593. [PMID: 37696784 PMCID: PMC10495373 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40921-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrous networks constructed from high aspect ratio protein building blocks are ubiquitous in nature. Despite this ubiquity, the functional advantage of such building blocks over globular proteins is not understood. To answer this question, we engineered hydrogel network building blocks with varying numbers of protein L domains to control the aspect ratio. The mechanical and structural properties of photochemically crosslinked protein L networks were then characterised using shear rheology and small angle neutron scattering. We show that aspect ratio is a crucial property that defines network architecture and mechanics, by shifting the formation from translationally diffusion dominated to rotationally diffusion dominated. Additionally, we demonstrate that a similar transition is observed in the model living system: fibrin blood clot networks. The functional advantages of this transition are increased mechanical strength and the rapid assembly of homogenous networks above a critical protein concentration, crucial for in vivo biological processes such as blood clotting. In addition, manipulating aspect ratio also provides a parameter in the design of future bio-mimetic and bio-inspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt D G Hughes
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Sophie Cussons
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Benjamin S Hanson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Kalila R Cook
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tímea Feller
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Spallation Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Daniel L Baker
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert Ariëns
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David A Head
- School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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9
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Boni R, Blackburn EA, Kleinjan DJ, Jonaitis M, Hewitt-Harris F, Murdoch M, Rosser S, Hay DC, Regan L. Chemically cross-linked hydrogels from repetitive protein arrays. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107981. [PMID: 37245604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.107981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Biomaterials for tissue regeneration must mimic the biophysical properties of the native physiological environment. A protein engineering approach allows the generation of protein hydrogels with specific and customised biophysical properties designed to suit a particular physiological environment. Herein, repetitive engineered proteins were successfully designed to form covalent molecular networks with defined physical characteristics able to sustain cell phenotype. Our hydrogel design was made possible by the incorporation of the SpyTag (ST) peptide and multiple repetitive units of the SpyCatcher (SC) protein that spontaneously formed covalent crosslinks upon mixing. Changing the ratios of the protein building blocks (ST:SC), allowed the viscoelastic properties and gelation speeds of the hydrogels to be altered and controlled. The physical properties of the hydrogels could readily be altered further to suit different environments by tuning the key features in the repetitive protein sequence. The resulting hydrogels were designed with a view to allow cell attachment and encapsulation of liver derived cells. Biocompatibility of the hydrogels was assayed using a HepG2 cell line constitutively expressing GFP. The cells remained viable and continued to express GFP whilst attached or encapsulated within the hydrogel. Our results demonstrate how this genetically encoded approach using repetitive proteins could be applied to bridge engineering biology with nanotechnology creating a level of biomaterial customisation previously inaccessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Boni
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A Blackburn
- Edinburgh Protein Production Facility (EPPF), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk-Jan Kleinjan
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mantas Jonaitis
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Flora Hewitt-Harris
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Murdoch
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Rosser
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - David C Hay
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne Regan
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
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10
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Zhang K, Liu Y, Shi X, Zhang R, He Y, Zhang H, Wang W. Application of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan copolymer hydrogels in biomedicine: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125192. [PMID: 37276897 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels is a hydrophilic, cross-linked polymer of three-dimensional network structures. The application of hydrogels prepared from a single polymer in the biomedical field has many drawbacks. The functional blend of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan allows hydrogels to have better and more desirable properties than those produced from a single polymer, which is a good biomaterial for development and design. In this paper, we have reviewed the progress in the application of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan composite hydrogels in various medical fields, the different cross-linking agents and cross-linking methods, and the research progress in the optimization of composite hydrogels for their subsequent wide range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Medical College, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Xuewen Shi
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ruihao Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yixiang He
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Huaibin Zhang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenji Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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11
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Aufderhorst-Roberts A, Cussons S, Brockwell DJ, Dougan L. Diversity of viscoelastic properties of an engineered muscle-inspired protein hydrogel. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:3167-3178. [PMID: 37067782 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01225a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Folded protein hydrogels are prime candidates as tuneable biomaterials but it is unclear to what extent their mechanical properties have mesoscopic, as opposed to molecular origins. To address this, we probe hydrogels inspired by the muscle protein titin and engineered to the polyprotein I275, using a multimodal rheology approach. Across multiple protocols, the hydrogels consistently exhibit power-law viscoelasticity in the linear viscoelastic regime with an exponent β = 0.03, suggesting a dense fractal meso-structure, with predicted fractal dimension df = 2.48. In the nonlinear viscoelastic regime, the hydrogel undergoes stiffening and energy dissipation, indicating simultaneous alignment and unfolding of the folded proteins on the nanoscale. Remarkably, this behaviour is highly reversible, as the value of β, df and the viscoelastic moduli return to their equilibrium value, even after multiple cycles of deformation. This highlights a previously unrevealed diversity of viscoelastic properties that originate on both at the nanoscale and the mesoscopic scale, providing powerful opportunities for engineering novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Aufderhorst-Roberts
- Department of Physics, Centre for Materials Physics, University of Durham, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Sophie Cussons
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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12
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Brown CP, Hughes MDG, Mahmoudi N, Brockwell DJ, Coletta PL, Peyman S, Evans SD, Dougan L. Structural and mechanical properties of folded protein hydrogels with embedded microbubbles. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2726-2737. [PMID: 36815670 PMCID: PMC10088474 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01918c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Globular folded proteins are powerful building blocks to create biomaterials with mechanical robustness and inherent biological functionality. Here we explore their potential as advanced drug delivery scaffolds, by embedding microbubbles (MBs) within a photo-activated, chemically cross-linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein network. Using a combination of circular dichroism (CD), rheology, small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and microscopy we determine the nanoscale and mesoscale structure and mechanics of this novel multi-composite system. Optical and confocal microscopy confirms the presence of MBs within the protein hydrogel, their reduced diffusion and their effective rupture using ultrasound, a requirement for burst drug release. CD confirms that the inclusion of MBs does not impact the proportion of folded proteins within the cross-linked protein network. Rheological characterisation demonstrates that the mechanics of the BSA hydrogels is reduced in the presence of MBs. Furthermore, SANS reveals that embedding MBs in the protein hydrogel network results in a smaller number of clusters that are larger in size (∼16.6% reduction in number of clusters, 17.4% increase in cluster size). Taken together, we show that MBs can be successfully embedded within a folded protein network and ruptured upon application of ultrasound. The fundamental insight into the impact of embedded MBs in protein scaffolds at the nanoscale and mesoscale is important in the development of future platforms for targeted and controlled drug delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa P Brown
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Matt D G Hughes
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Najet Mahmoudi
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Spallation Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
| | - P Louise Coletta
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - Sally Peyman
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Stephen D Evans
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
| | - Lorna Dougan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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13
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Nikfarjam S, Gibbons R, Burni F, Raghavan SR, Anisimov MA, Woehl TJ. Chemically Fueled Dissipative Cross-Linking of Protein Hydrogels Mediated by Protein Unfolding. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1131-1140. [PMID: 36795055 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cells assemble dynamic protein-based nanostructures far from equilibrium, such as microtubules, in a process referred to as dissipative assembly. Synthetic analogues have utilized chemical fuels and reaction networks to form transient hydrogels and molecular assemblies from small molecule or synthetic polymer building blocks. Here, we demonstrate dissipative cross-linking of transient protein hydrogels using a redox cycle, which exhibit protein unfolding-dependent lifetimes and mechanical properties. Fast oxidation of cysteine groups on bovine serum albumin by hydrogen peroxide, the chemical fuel, formed transient hydrogels with disulfide bond cross-links that degraded over hours by a slow reductive back reaction. Interestingly, despite increased cross-linking, the hydrogel lifetime decreased as a function of increasing denaturant concentration. Experiments showed that the solvent-accessible cysteine concentration increased with increasing denaturant concentration due to unfolding of secondary structures. The increased cysteine concentration consumed more fuel, which led to less direction oxidation of the reducing agent and affected a shorter hydrogel lifetime. Increased hydrogel stiffness, disulfide cross-linking density, and decreased oxidation of redox-sensitive fluorescent probes at a high denaturant concentration provided evidence supporting the unveiling of additional cysteine cross-linking sites and more rapid consumption of hydrogen peroxide at higher denaturant concentrations. Taken together, the results indicate that the protein secondary structure mediated the transient hydrogel lifetime and mechanical properties by mediating the redox reactions, a feature unique to biomacromolecules that exhibit a higher order structure. While prior works have focused on the effects of the fuel concentration on dissipative assembly of non-biological molecules, this work demonstrates that the protein structure, even in nearly fully denatured proteins, can exert similar control over reaction kinetics, lifetime, and resulting mechanical properties of transient hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakiba Nikfarjam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Rebecca Gibbons
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Faraz Burni
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Srinivasa R Raghavan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Mikhail A Anisimov
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
- Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
| | - Taylor J Woehl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20740, United States
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14
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Mechanical Properties of Protein-Based Hydrogels Derived from Binary Protein Mixtures-A Feasibility Study. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15040964. [PMID: 36850249 PMCID: PMC9964579 DOI: 10.3390/polym15040964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels based on natural polymers such as proteins are considered biocompatible and, therefore, represent an interesting class of materials for application in the field of biomedicine and high-performance materials. However, there is a lack of understanding of the proteins which are able to form hydrogel networks by photoinduced dityrosine crosslinking as well as a profound knowledge of the formed network itself and the mechanisms which are responsible for the resulting mechanical properties of such protein-based hydrogels. In this study, casein, bovine serum albumin, α-amylase, and a hydrophobic elastin-like protein were used to prepare binary protein mixtures with defined concentration ratios. After polymerization, the mechanical properties of the resulting homopolymeric and copolymeric hydrogels were determined using rheological methods depending on the protein shares used. In additional uniaxial compression tests, the fracture strain was shown to be independent of the protein shares, while hydrogel toughness and compressive strength were increased for protein-based hydrogels containing casein.
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15
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Meng R, Zhu H, Deng P, Li M, Ji Q, He H, Jin L, Wang B. Research progress on albumin-based hydrogels: Properties, preparation methods, types and its application for antitumor-drug delivery and tissue engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1137145. [PMID: 37113668 PMCID: PMC10127125 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1137145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Albumin is derived from blood plasma and is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, which has good mechanical properties, biocompatibility and degradability, so albumin is an ideal biomaterial for biomedical applications, and drug-carriers based on albumin can better reduce the cytotoxicity of drug. Currently, there are numerous reviews summarizing the research progress on drug-loaded albumin molecules or nanoparticles. In comparison, the study of albumin-based hydrogels is a relatively small area of research, and few articles have systematically summarized the research progress of albumin-based hydrogels, especially for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Thus, this review summarizes the functional features and preparation methods of albumin-based hydrogels, different types of albumin-based hydrogels and their applications in antitumor drugs, tissue regeneration engineering, etc. Also, potential directions for future research on albumin-based hydrogels are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Meng
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huimin Zhu
- Sheyang County Comprehensive Inspection and Testing Center, Yancheng, China
| | - Peiying Deng
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingzhi Ji
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers’ University, Yancheng, China
| | - Hao He
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Liang Jin, ; Bochu Wang,
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Department of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Liang Jin, ; Bochu Wang,
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16
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Tang Y, Wang H, Liu S, Pu L, Hu X, Ding J, Xu G, Xu W, Xiang S, Yuan Z. A review of protein hydrogels: Protein assembly mechanisms, properties, and biological applications. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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17
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Haas S, Körner S, Zintel L, Hubbuch J. Changing mechanical properties of photopolymerized, dityrosine-crosslinked protein-based hydrogels. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1006438. [PMID: 36172024 PMCID: PMC9512244 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1006438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels based on renewable resources are a promising class of materials for future applications in pharmaceutics, drug delivery and personalized medicine. Thus, optional adjustments of mechanical properties such as swelling behavior, elasticity and network strength are desired. In this context, hydrogels based on the biological raw materials bovine serum albumin and casein were prepared by dityrosine-crosslinking of their tyrosine residues through visible light-induced photopolymerization. Changing the tyrosine accessibility by urea addition before photopolymerization increased the storage modulus of the hydrogels by 650% while simultaneously being more elastic. Furthermore, contributions of the buffer system composition, variation of protein concentration and storage medium towards mechanical properties of the hydrogel such as storage moduli, elasticity, fracture strain, compressive strength and relative weight swelling ratio are discussed. It could be shown, that changes in precursor solution and storage medium characteristics are crucial parameters towards tuning the mechanical properties of protein-based hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jürgen Hubbuch
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section IV: Molecular Separation Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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