The possibility of obtaining different self-assembled nanostructures in reversible systems based on elastin-like block corecombinamers is explored in this work. The results obtained show how an evolution from a more common micellar structure to a hollow vesicle can be attained simply by changing the block arrangements and lengths, even when other molecular properties, such as molecular weight or mean polarity, remain essentially unchanged. This work sheds light on the possibility of obtaining hollow nano-objects, based on elastin-like recombinamers, which can assemble and disassemble in response to a change in their surroundings. This kind of system can be an example of how high precision in the genetic production of synthetic macro-molecules can be used, on an exclusive basis, to control the shape and size of their derived nano-objects.

Elastin-like recombinamers have grown in popularity in the field of protein-inspired biomimetic materials and have found widespread use in biomedical applications. Modern genetic-engineering techniques have allowed the design of multifunctional materials with an extraordinary control over their architecture and physicochemical properties, such as stimuli-responsiveness, monodispersity, biocompatibility or self-assembly, amongst others. Indeed, these materials are playing an increasingly important role in a diverse range of applications, such as drug delivery, tissue engineering and 'smart' systems. Herein, we review some of the most interesting examples of recent advances and progressive applications of elastin-like recombinamers in biomaterial and nano-engineering sciences in recent years.

Control over biodegradation processes is crucial to generate advanced functional structures with a more interactive and efficient role for biomedical applications. Herein, a simple, high-throughput approach is developed based on a 3D-structured system that allows a preprogramed spatial-temporal control over cell infiltration and biodegradation. The 3D-structured system is based on elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) characterized by differences in the kinetics of their peptide cleavage and consists of a three-layer hydrogel disk comprising an internal layer containing a rapidly degrading component, with the external layers containing a slow-degrading ELR. This structure is intended to invert the conventional pattern of cell infiltration, which goes from the outside to the inside of the implant, to allow an anti-natural process in which infiltration takes place first in the internal layer and later progresses to the outer layers. Time-course in vivo studies proved this hypothesis, i.e. that it is possible to drive the infiltration of cells over time in a given 3D-structured implant in a controlled and predesigned way that is able to overcome the natural tendency of conventional cell infiltration. The results obtained herein open up the possibility of applying this concept to more complex systems with multiple biological functions.