A1 Journal article (refereed)
Material engineering and application of hybrid biomimetic-de novo designed elastin-like polypeptides (2024)

Geng, Z., Laakko, T., Hokkanen, A., Södergård, C., Maasilta, I., & Mohammadi, P. (2024). Material engineering and application of hybrid biomimetic-de novo designed elastin-like polypeptides. Communications Materials, 5, Article 152. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-024-00597-y

JYU authors or editors

Geng, Zhuoran
Maasilta, Ilari

Publication details

All authors or editors: Geng, Zhuoran; Laakko, Timo; Hokkanen, Ari; Södergård, Caj; Maasilta, Ilari; Mohammadi, Pezhman

Journal or series: Communications Materials

eISSN: 2662-4443

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 14/08/2024

Volume: 5

Article number: 152

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-024-00597-y

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/96863

Abstract

The global concern over environmental consequences of petrochemical-derived plastics underscores the urgent need for sustainable and biodegradable polymers. In this context, elastin-like polypeptides emerge as a promising solution, offering multiple advantages, including remarkable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, customizable functionalities, and renewable sourcing through biosynthetic production in microbes, making them a compelling choice for various applications. We previously demonstrated accelerated engineering of a new class of elastin-like polypeptide‐based materials through hybrid biomimetic‐de novo predictive molecular design. The resulting variants exhibited enhanced molecular stability compared to their natural counterparts, catering to a range of technical applications that involve harsh downstream processing conditions. Here, we showcase the use of some of these previously discovered hybrid variants and illustrate the effective translation of the predicted molecular designs in structural and functional materials in several high-added-value applications. This includes multiscale drug-encapsulating vehicles with controlled release, multifunctional wound coverings, and all-aqueous-based biobased photoresists for creating 2D/3D microstructures.

Keywords: biomaterials; polymers; environmental effects; plastic; petrochemistry

Free keywords: bioinspired materials; biomaterials – proteins; biomedical materials; biomimetics

Fields of science: