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Puertas-Bartolomé M, Venegas-Bustos D, Acosta S, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Contribution of the ELRs to the development of advanced in vitro models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1363865. [PMID: 38650751 PMCID: PMC11033926 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1363865] [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: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing in vitro models that accurately mimic the microenvironment of biological structures or processes holds substantial promise for gaining insights into specific biological functions. In the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro models able to capture the precise structural, topographical, and functional complexity of living tissues, prove to be valuable tools for comprehending disease mechanisms, assessing drug responses, and serving as alternatives or complements to animal testing. The choice of the right biomaterial and fabrication technique for the development of these in vitro models plays an important role in their functionality. In this sense, elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) have emerged as an important tool for the fabrication of in vitro models overcoming the challenges encountered in natural and synthetic materials due to their intrinsic properties, such as phase transition behavior, tunable biological properties, viscoelasticity, and easy processability. In this review article, we will delve into the use of ELRs for molecular models of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), as well as for the development of in vitro 3D models for regenerative medicine. The easy processability of the ELRs and their rational design has allowed their use for the development of spheroids and organoids, or bioinks for 3D bioprinting. Thus, incorporating ELRs into the toolkit of biomaterials used for the fabrication of in vitro models, represents a transformative step forward in improving the accuracy, efficiency, and functionality of these models, and opening up a wide range of possibilities in combination with advanced biofabrication techniques that remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Puertas-Bartolomé
- Technical Proteins Nanobiotechnology, S.L. (TPNBT), Valladolid, Spain
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Desiré Venegas-Bustos
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sergio Acosta
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER's Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
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Noh Y, Son E, Cha C. Exploring stimuli-responsive elastin-like polypeptide for biomedicine and beyond: potential application as programmable soft actuators. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1284226. [PMID: 37965051 PMCID: PMC10642932 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1284226] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of soft robotics, there is a growing need to develop actuator systems that are lightweight, mechanically compliant, stimuli-responsive, and readily programmable for precise and intelligent operation. Therefore, "smart" polymeric materials that can precisely change their physicomechanical properties in response to various external stimuli (e.g., pH, temperature, electromagnetic force) are increasingly investigated. Many different types of polymers demonstrating stimuli-responsiveness and shape memory effect have been developed over the years, but their focus has been mostly placed on controlling their mechanical properties. In order to impart complexity in actuation systems, there is a concerted effort to implement additional desired functionalities. For this purpose, elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), a class of genetically-engineered thermoresponsive polypeptides that have been mostly utilized for biomedical applications, is being increasingly investigated for stimuli-responsive actuation. Herein, unique characteristics and biomedical applications of ELP, and recent progress on utilizing ELP for programmable actuation are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chaenyung Cha
- Center for Multidimensional Programmable Matter, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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Kaltbeitzel J, Wich PR. Protein-based Nanoparticles: From Drug Delivery to Imaging, Nanocatalysis and Protein Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202216097. [PMID: 36917017 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202216097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Proteins and enzymes are versatile biomaterials for a wide range of medical applications due to their high specificity for receptors and substrates, high degradability, low toxicity, and overall good biocompatibility. Protein nanoparticles are formed by the arrangement of several native or modified proteins into nanometer-sized assemblies. In this review, we will focus on artificial nanoparticle systems, where proteins are the main structural element and not just an encapsulated payload. While under natural conditions, only certain proteins form defined aggregates and nanoparticles, chemical modifications or a change in the physical environment can further extend the pool of available building blocks. This allows the assembly of many globular proteins and even enzymes. These advances in preparation methods led to the emergence of new generations of nanosystems that extend beyond transport vehicles to diverse applications, from multifunctional drug delivery to imaging, nanocatalysis and protein therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Kaltbeitzel
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Peter R Wich
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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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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Shi X, Chen D, Liu G, Zhang H, Wang X, Wu Z, Wu Y, Yu F, Xu Q. Application of Elastin-Like Polypeptide in Tumor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153683. [PMID: 35954346 PMCID: PMC9367306 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Elastin-like Polypeptide (ELP) are widely applied in protein purification, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and even tumor therapy. Recent studies show that usage of ELP has made great progress in combination with peptide drugs or antibody drugs. The combination of ELP and photosensitizer in cancer therapy or imaging has made more progress and needs to be summarized. In this review, we summarize the specific application of ELP in cancer therapy, especially the latest developments in the combined use of ELP with photosensitizers. We seek to provide the most recent understanding of ELP and its new application in combination with Photosensitizer. Abstract Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are stimulus-responsive artificially designed proteins synthesized from the core amino acid sequence of human tropoelastin. ELPs have good biocompatibility and biodegradability and do not systemically induce adverse immune responses, making them a suitable module for drug delivery. Design strategies can equip ELPs with the ability to respond to changes in temperature and pH or the capacity to self-assemble into nanoparticles. These unique tunable biophysicochemical properties make ELPs among the most widely studied biopolymers employed in protein purification, drug delivery, tissue engineering and even in tumor therapy. As a module for drug delivery and as a carrier to target tumor cells, the combination of ELPs with therapeutic drugs, antibodies and photo-oxidation molecules has been shown to result in improved pharmacokinetic properties (prolonged half-life, drug targeting, cell penetration and controlled release) while restricting the cytotoxicity of the drug to a confined infected site. In this review, we summarize the latest developments in the application methods of ELP employed in tumor therapy, with a focus on its conjugation with peptide drugs, antibodies and photosensitizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianggang Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (X.S.); (D.C.); (Y.W.)
| | - Dongfeng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (X.S.); (D.C.); (Y.W.)
| | - Guodong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223800, China; (G.L.); (H.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Hailing Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223800, China; (G.L.); (H.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223800, China; (G.L.); (H.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Zhi Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of High-Tech Research and Development of Veterinary Biopharmaceuticals, Jiangsu Agri-Animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou 225306, China;
| | - Yan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (X.S.); (D.C.); (Y.W.)
| | - Feng Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (X.S.); (D.C.); (Y.W.)
- Correspondence: (F.Y.); (Q.X.); Tel.: +86-139-5292-3250 (F.Y.); +86-159-5281-6017 (Q.X.)
| | - Qinggang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; (X.S.); (D.C.); (Y.W.)
- Correspondence: (F.Y.); (Q.X.); Tel.: +86-139-5292-3250 (F.Y.); +86-159-5281-6017 (Q.X.)
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