Synthesis and Characterization of Macroporous Thermosensitive Hydrogels from Recombinant Elastin-Like Polymers

Martin, Laura B.; Alonso, Matilde; Girotti, Alessandra; Arias, Francisco J.; Rodríguez‐Cabello, José Carlos

doi:10.1021/bm900560a

Cited by 83 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Although SEM analysis cannot be taken to fully represent the hydrated state of the gels because of structural artifacts introduced by the lyophilization process, our gels show a porous microstructure and the presence of channels similar to other freeze-dried ELP hydrogels. 23,26 After equilibration in water, hydrogels were loaded with OPPVs at four different pHs (pH 3, 5, 7, or 9). Excess OPPV was removed by passive leaching ( Figure S2).…”

Section: Acs Biomaterials Science and Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our values for elastic and shear moduli are comparable to those reported for other ELP hydrogels as well as for soft biological materials such as muscle. 2,26,31 pH-and Temperature-Dependent Optical Characterization. The same polymeric features that provide ELP/OPPV hydrogels with temperature-dependent viscoelasticity also supply a unique, stimuli-responsive environment in which to investigate the photophysical properties of OPPV.…”

Section: Acs Biomaterials Science and Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Stimuli-Responsive Genetically Engineered Polymer Hydrogel Demonstrates Emergent Optical Responses

Balog

Ghosh

Park

et al. 2016

ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng.

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Biopolymer-based optical hydrogels represent an emerging class of materials with potential applications in biocompatible integrated optoelectronic devices, bioimaging applications, and stretchable/flexible photonics. We have synthesized stimuli-responsive three-dimensional hydrogels from genetically engineered elastin-like polymers (ELPs) and have loaded these hydrogels with an amine-containing pphenylenevinylene oligomer (OPPV) derivative featuring highly tunable, environmentally sensitive optical properties. The composite ELP/OPPV hydrogels exhibit both pH-and temperature-dependent fluorescence emission, from which we have characterized a unique optical behavior that emerged from OPPV within the hydrogel environment. By systematic comparison with free OPPV in solution, our results suggest that this distinct behavior is due to local electronic effects arising from interactions between the hydrophobic ELP microenvironment and the nonprotonated OPPV species at pH 7 or higher. KEYWORDS: conjugated oligomer, composite material, optically active material, photoluminescence, polymeric material, stimuli-responsive material, genetically encoded ■ INTRODUCTIONProtein-based polymers are an exciting option for future materials applications because they are sustainable, biodegradable, and can be designed at the DNA level, affording a degree of precision not attainable through conventional polymer synthesis. Additionally, through natural selection, proteins have evolved desirable materials properties that can be manipulated for specific applications. For example, elastin-like polymers (ELPs) are based on the vertebrate protein elastin, which is a specialized extracellular matrix protein that confers mechanical properties such as extensibility and resilience to our connective tissue. Unlike typical globular proteins, which have a biochemically heterogeneous composition leading to distinct 3D folds, elastin contains a series of pentameric (VPGXG) amino acid repeats that underlie its extraordinary elasticity. 1 In aqueous environments, ELPs composed primarily of these VPGXG repeats exhibit reversible coacervation that depends upon temperature and ionic strength. 1 This same stimuli-responsive behavior can be manifested within the 3D polymer network of a hydrogel. 2 Upon heating, ELP gels condense in volume, expel water, and become opaque. Upon cooling, the gels swell, reabsorb water molecules, and become transparent. This volume shrinkage/expansion process is reversible and can be designed at the molecular level to occur in physiologically and experimentally practical temperature ranges at the macroscopic level. ELPs have shown promise in applications such as drug delivery, coatings for implants, and hydrogels for tissue engineering. 3−5 However, despite their appealing properties, there has been limited research into the integration of ELPs with optical or electronic materials, and none of this past work has taken advantage of ELP hydrogel elasticity and stimuliresponsiveness for optically active "smart" materials applications...

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Section: Acs Biomaterials Science and Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Acs Biomaterials Science and Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimuli-Responsive Genetically Engineered Polymer Hydrogel Demonstrates Emergent Optical Responses

Balog

Ghosh

Park

et al. 2016

ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng.

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“…Both these features can be achieved in 3D scaffolds obtained by chemical cross-linking of an enzymatically biodegradable ELR-REDV. Thus, HUVECs cultured in highly interconnected porous 3D hydrogels are able to infiltrate the porous network and acquire a well spread morphology [67]. The same ELR-REDV and collagen have also been enzymatically cross-linked using variable ratios of both proteins to form 3D scaffolds.…”

Section: Elrs In Tissue Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Contributions of Elastin-Like Recombinamers to Biomedicine and Nanotechnology

Arias¹,

Santos²,

Fernández‐Colino³

et al. 2014

CTMC

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Abstract:The emergence of the new scientific field known as nanomedicine is being catalyzed by multiple improvements in nanoscience techniques and significant progress in materials science, especially as regards the testing of novel and sophisticated biomaterials. This conjuncture has furthered the development of promising instruments in terms of detection, bioanalysis, therapy, diagnostics and imaging. Some of the most innovative new biomaterials are protein-inspired biomimetic materials in which modern biotechnology and genetic-engineering techniques complement the huge amount of information afforded by natural protein evolution to create advanced and tailor-made multifunctional molecules. Amongst these protein-based biomaterials, Elastin-like Recombinamers (ELRs) have demonstrated their enormous potential in the fields of biomedicine and nanoscience in the last few years. This broad applicability derives from their unmatched properties, particularly their recombinant and tailor-made nature, the intrinsic characteristics derived from their elastin-based origin (mainly their mechanical properties and ability to self-assemble as a result of their stimuli-responsive behavior), their proven biocompatibility and biodegradability, as well as their versatility as regards incorporating advanced chemical or recombinant modifications into the original structure that open up an almost unlimited number of multifunctional possibilities in this developing field. This article provides an updated review of the recent challenges overcome by using these recombinant biomaterials in the fields of nano-and biomedicine, ranging from nanoscale applications in surface modifications and self-assembled nanostructures to drug delivery and regenerative medicine.

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“…This way, appropriate bioactive substrates can be obtained for a wide range of applications. Highly porous hydrogels have been conceived by chemical cross-linking of ELRs containing REDV sequence: salt leaching/gas foaming was performed to obtain suitable 3D scaffolds promoting infiltration of HUVEC cells inside the porous network ( Figure 5.4) [133]. Another potential application of these bioactive ELRs is the preparation of films to be used for ocular surface tissue engineering [134,135].…”

Section: Tissue Engineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elastin‐Like Macromolecules

Costa

Martin

Mano

et al. 2012

Biomimetic Approaches for Biomaterials Development

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Synthesis and Characterization of Macroporous Thermosensitive Hydrogels from Recombinant Elastin-Like Polymers

Cited by 83 publications

References 49 publications

Stimuli-Responsive Genetically Engineered Polymer Hydrogel Demonstrates Emergent Optical Responses

Stimuli-Responsive Genetically Engineered Polymer Hydrogel Demonstrates Emergent Optical Responses

Recent Contributions of Elastin-Like Recombinamers to Biomedicine and Nanotechnology

Elastin‐Like Macromolecules

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