Triblock protein copolymers forming supramolecular nanotapes and pH-responsive gels

A.A. Martens, G. Portale, M.W.T. Werten, R.J. de Vries, G. Eggink, M.A. Cohen Stuart, F.A. de Wolf

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    54 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We report on the biosynthesis of 65 kDa A¿B¿A triblock copolymers consisting of pH-responsive (acidic) silklike blocks and nonresponsive collagenlike blocks, and we show that at pH values where the silklike blocks become uncharged, these polymers form transparent high-modulus gels, that is, 7¿15 kPa at 8 g·L¿1, that consist of supramolecular nanotapes with a height of 2.8 nm, a width of 14 nm, and an average length of >10 ¿m. At the concentrations employed, both of these protein triblocks essentially form the same structure, irrespective of block order. The amount of product isolated from the extracellular medium is in the gram per liter range. This high yield makes various applications of this promising class of biocompatible materials possible.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1002-1009
    JournalMacromolecules
    Volume42
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • periodic polypeptides
    • associative polymers
    • circular-dichroism
    • crystal-structure
    • aqueous-solution
    • pichia-pastoris
    • silk fibroin
    • beta
    • biomaterials
    • conformation

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