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Pepe A, Maio L, Bracalello A, Quintanilla-Sierra L, Arias FJ, Girotti A, Bochicchio B. Soft Hydrogel Inspired by Elastomeric Proteins. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5028-5038. [PMID: 34676744 PMCID: PMC8579378 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Elastin polypeptides
based on -VPGVG- repeated motifs are widely
used in the production of biomaterials because they are stimuli-responsive
systems. On the other hand, glycine-rich sequences, mainly present
in tropoelastin terminal domains, are responsible for the elastin
self-assembly. In a previous study, we have recombinantly expressed
a chimeric polypeptide, named resilin, elastin, and collagen (REC),
inspired by glycine-rich motifs of elastin and containing resilin
and collagen sequences as well. Herein, a three-block polypeptide,
named (REC)3, was expressed starting from the previous
monomer gene by introducing key modifications in the sequence. The
choice was mandatory because the uneven distribution of the cross-linking
sites in the monomer precluded the hydrogel production. In this work,
the cross-linked polypeptide appeared as a soft hydrogel, as assessed
by rheology, and the linear un-cross-linked trimer self-aggregated
more rapidly than the REC monomer. The absence of cell-adhesive sequences
did not affect cell viability, while it was functional to the production
of a material presenting antiadhesive properties useful in the integration
of synthetic devices in the body and preventing the invasion of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Pepe
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Lucia Maio
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.,BIOFORGE CIBER-BBN, LUCIA Building, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belen 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Angelo Bracalello
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Luis Quintanilla-Sierra
- BIOFORGE CIBER-BBN, LUCIA Building, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belen 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Arias
- Smart Devices for NanoMedicine Group, LUCIA Building, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belen 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Alessandra Girotti
- BIOFORGE CIBER-BBN, LUCIA Building, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belen 19, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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2
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Vassalli
- James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Center for the Cellular Microenvironment, 70 University Avenue, School of Engineering, G12 8LT, Glasgow, UK
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3
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Bracalello A, Secchi V, Mastrantonio R, Pepe A, Persichini T, Iucci G, Bochicchio B, Battocchio C. Fibrillar Self-Assembly of a Chimeric Elastin-Resilin Inspired Engineered Polypeptide. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 9:E1613. [PMID: 31739482 PMCID: PMC6915571 DOI: 10.3390/nano9111613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In the field of tissue engineering, recombinant protein-based biomaterials made up of block polypeptides with tunable properties arising from the functionalities of the individual domains are appealing candidates for the construction of medical devices. In this work, we focused our attention on the preparation and structural characterization of nanofibers from a chimeric-polypeptide-containing resilin and elastin domain, designed on purpose to enhance its cell-binding ability by introducing a specific fibronectin-derived Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence. The polypeptide ability to self-assemble was investigated. The molecular and supramolecular structure was characterized by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), circular dichroism, state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation-induced techniques X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS). The attained complementary results allow us to assess as H-bonds influence the morphology of the aggregates obtained after the self-assembling of the chimeric polypeptide. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the potential cytotoxicity of the polypeptide was performed by culturing human fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF2) for its use as biomedical device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Bracalello
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Valeria Secchi
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Roberta Mastrantonio
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Tiziana Persichini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Giovanna Iucci
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
| | - Brigida Bochicchio
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Chiara Battocchio
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale, 79, 00146 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (T.P.); (G.I.)
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4
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Su RSC, Gill EE, Kim Y, Liu JC. Characterization of resilin-like proteins with tunable mechanical properties. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019; 91:68-75. [PMID: 30544024 PMCID: PMC6774346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Resilin is an elastomeric protein abundant in insect cuticle. Its exceptional properties, which include high resilience and efficient energy storage, motivate its potential use in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. Our lab has previously developed recombinant proteins based on the resilin-like sequence derived from Anopheles gambiae and demonstrated their promise as a scaffold for cartilage and vascular engineering. In this work, we describe a more thorough investigation of the physical properties of crosslinked resilin-like hydrogels. The resilin-like proteins rapidly form crosslinked hydrogels in physiological conditions. We also show that the mechanical properties of these resilin-like hydrogels can be modulated simply by varying the protein concentration or the stoichiometric ratio of crosslinker to crosslinking sites. Crosslinked resilin-like hydrogels were hydrophilic and had a high water content when swollen. In addition, these hydrogels exhibited moderate resilience values, which were comparable to those of common synthetic rubbers. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy showed that the crosslinked resilin-like hydrogels at 16 wt% featured a honeycomb-like structure. These studies thus demonstrate the potential to use recombinant resilin-like proteins in a wide variety of applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery due to their tunable physical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renay S-C Su
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, United States
| | - Emily E Gill
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032, United States
| | - Yeji Kim
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, United States
| | - Julie C Liu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, United States; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032, United States.
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5
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Griffo A, Hähl H, Grandthyll S, Müller F, Paananen A, Ilmén M, Szilvay GR, Landowski CP, Penttilä M, Jacobs K, Laaksonen P. Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Study on Modular Resilin Fusion Protein. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:6906-6915. [PMID: 31457277 PMCID: PMC6644949 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b01133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The adhesive and mechanical properties of a modular fusion protein consisting of two different types of binding units linked together via a flexible resilin-like-polypeptide domain are quantified. The adhesive domains have been constructed from fungal cellulose-binding modules (CBMs) and an amphiphilic hydrophobin HFBI. This study is carried out by single-molecule force spectroscopy, which enables stretching of single molecules. The fusion proteins are designed to self-assemble on the cellulose surface, leading into the submonolayer of proteins having the HFBI pointing away from the surface. A hydrophobic atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip can be employed for contacting and lifting the single fusion protein from the HFBI-functionalized terminus by the hydrophobic interaction between the tip surface and the hydrophobic patch of the HFBI. The work of rupture, contour length at rupture and the adhesion forces of the amphiphilic end domains are evaluated under aqueous environment at different pHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Griffo
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems BIO, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Hendrik Hähl
- Department
of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Samuel Grandthyll
- Department
of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Frank Müller
- Department
of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Arja Paananen
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tietotie 2, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
| | - Marja Ilmén
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tietotie 2, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
| | - Géza R. Szilvay
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tietotie 2, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
| | | | - Merja Penttilä
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems BIO, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tietotie 2, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
| | - Karin Jacobs
- Department
of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Päivi Laaksonen
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems BIO, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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6
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Bochicchio B, Bracalello A, Pepe A. Characterization of a Crosslinked Elastomeric-Protein Inspired Polypeptide. Chirality 2016; 28:606-11. [PMID: 27403636 DOI: 10.1002/chir.22619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Materials inspired by natural proteins have a great appeal in tissue engineering for their biocompatibility and similarity to extracellular matrix (ECM). Chimeric polypeptides inspired by elastomeric proteins such as silk, elastin, and collagen are of outstanding interest in the field. A recombinant polypeptide constituted of three different blocks, each of them having sequences derived from elastin, resilin, and collagen proteins, was demonstrated to be a good candidate as biomaterial for its self-assembling characteristics and biocompatibility. Herein, taking advantage of the primary amine functionalities present in the linear polypeptide, we crosslinked it with 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate (HMDI). The characterization of the obtained polypeptide was realized by CD spectroscopy, AFM, and SEM microscopies. The obtained results, although not conclusive, demonstrate that the crosslinked polypeptide gave rise to porous networks, thin nanowires, and films not observable for the linear polypeptide. Chirality 28:606-611, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Bochicchio
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Angelo Bracalello
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonietta Pepe
- Laboratory of Protein-Inspired Materials, Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
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7
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Girotti A, Orbanic D, Ibáñez-Fonseca A, Gonzalez-Obeso C, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Recombinant Technology in the Development of Materials and Systems for Soft-Tissue Repair. Adv Healthc Mater 2015; 4:2423-55. [PMID: 26172311 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The field of biomedicine is constantly investing significant research efforts in order to gain a more in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that govern the function of body compartments and to develop creative solutions for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. The main overall goal is to develop relatively simple systems that are able to mimic naturally occurring constructs and can therefore be used in regenerative medicine. Recombinant technology, which is widely used to obtain new tailored synthetic genes that express polymeric protein-based structures, now offers a broad range of advantages for that purpose by permitting the tuning of biological and mechanical properties depending on the intended application while simultaneously ensuring adequate biocompatibility and biodegradability of the scaffold formed by the polymers. This Progress Report is focused on recombinant protein-based materials that resemble naturally occurring proteins of interest for use in soft tissue repair. An overview of recombinant biomaterials derived from elastin, silk, collagen and resilin is given, along with a description of their characteristics and suggested applications. Current endeavors in this field are continuously providing more-improved materials in comparison with conventional ones. As such, a great effort is being made to put these materials through clinical trials in order to favor their future use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Girotti
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology); CIBER-BBN; University of Valladolid, Edificio LUCIA; Paseo de Belén, 19 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - Doriana Orbanic
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology); CIBER-BBN; University of Valladolid, Edificio LUCIA; Paseo de Belén, 19 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - Arturo Ibáñez-Fonseca
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology); CIBER-BBN; University of Valladolid, Edificio LUCIA; Paseo de Belén, 19 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - Constancio Gonzalez-Obeso
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology); CIBER-BBN; University of Valladolid, Edificio LUCIA; Paseo de Belén, 19 47011 Valladolid Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology); CIBER-BBN; University of Valladolid, Edificio LUCIA; Paseo de Belén, 19 47011 Valladolid Spain
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8
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Desai MS, Lee SW. Protein-based functional nanomaterial design for bioengineering applications. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 7:69-97. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Malav S. Desai
- Department of Bioengineering; University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley CA USA
- Physical Biosciences Division; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Berkeley CA USA
| | - Seung-Wuk Lee
- Department of Bioengineering; University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley CA USA
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9
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Elastin-coated biodegradable photopolymer scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:624645. [PMID: 25405204 PMCID: PMC4227440 DOI: 10.1155/2014/624645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
One of the main open issues in modern vascular surgery is the nonbiodegradability of implants used for stent interventions, which can lead to small caliber-related thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia. Some new, resorbable polymeric materials have been proposed to substitute traditional stainless-steel stents, but so far they were affected by poor mechanical properties and low biocompatibility. In this respect, a new material, polypropylene fumarate (PPF), may be considered as a promising candidate to implement the development of next generation stents, due to its complete biodegradability, and excellent mechanical properties and the ease to be precisely patterned. Besides all these benefits, PPF has not been tested yet for vascular prosthesis, mainly because it proved to be almost inert, while the ability to elicit a specific biological function would be of paramount importance in such critical surgery applications. Here, we propose a biomimetic functionalization process, aimed at obtaining specific bioactivation and thus improved cell-polymer interaction. Porous PPF-based scaffolds produced by deep-UV photocuring were coated by elastin and the functionalized scaffolds were extensively characterized, revealing a stable bound between the protein and the polymer surface. Both 3T3 and HUVEC cell lines were used for in vitro tests displaying an enhancement of cells adhesion and proliferation on the functionalized scaffolds.
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10
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Resilin: protein-based elastomeric biomaterials. Acta Biomater 2014; 10:1601-11. [PMID: 23831198 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Resilin is an elastomeric protein found in insect cuticles and is remarkable for its high strain, low stiffness, and high resilience. Since the first resilin sequence was identified in Drosophilia melanogaster (fruit fly), researchers have utilized molecular cloning techniques to construct resilin-based proteins for a number of different applications. In addition to exhibiting the superior mechanical properties of resilin, resilin-based proteins are autofluorescent, display self-assembly properties, and undergo phase transitions in response to temperature. These properties have potential application in designing biosensors or environmentally responsive materials for use in tissue engineering or drug delivery. Furthermore, the capability of resilin-based biomaterials has been expanded by designing proteins that include both resilin-based sequences and bioactive domains such as cell-adhesion or matrix metalloproteinase sequences. These new materials maintain the superior mechanical and physical properties of resilin and also have the added benefit of controlling cell response. Because the mechanical and biological properties can be tuned through protein engineering, a wide range of properties can be achieved for tissue engineering applications including muscles, vocal folds, cardiovascular tissues, and cartilage.
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Vassalli M, Sbrana F, Laurita A, Papi M, Bloise N, Visai L, Bochicchio B. Biological and structural characterization of a naturally inspired material engineered from elastin as a candidate for tissue engineering applications. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2013; 29:15898-15906. [PMID: 24328291 DOI: 10.1021/la403311x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The adoption of a biomimetic approach in the design and fabrication of innovative materials for biomedical applications is encountering a growing interest. In particular, new molecules are being engineered on the basis of proteins present in the extracellular matrix, such as fibronectin, collagen, or elastin. Following this approach scientists expect to be able not only to obtain materials with tailored mechanical properties but also to elicit specific biological responses inherited by the mimicked tissue. In the present work, a novel peptide, engineered starting from the sequence encoded by exon 28 of human tropoelastin, was characterized from a chemical, physical, and biological point of view. The obtained molecule was observed to aggregate at high temperatures, forming a material able to induce a biological effect similar to what elastin does in the physiological context. This material seems to be a good candidate to play a relevant role in future biomedical applications with special reference to vascular surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Vassalli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Genova, Italy
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Abstract
Resilin, an insect structural protein, exhibits rubber-like elasticity characterized by low stiffness, high extensibility, efficient energy storage, and exceptional resilience and fatigue lifetime. The outstanding mechanical properties of natural resilin have motivated recent research in the engineering of resilin-like polypeptide-based biomaterials, with a wide range of applications including use as bio-rubbers, nanosprings, elements in biosensors, and tissue engineering scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linqing Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States; Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, 19716, United States; Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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