Elastin-like polypeptide based hydroxyapatite bionanocomposites.

ABSTRACT: In nature, organic matrix macromolecules play a critical role in enhancing the mechanical properties of biomineralized composites such as bone and teeth. Designing artificial matrix analogues is promising but challenging because relatively little is known about how natural matrix components function. Therefore, in lieu of using natural components, we created biomimetic matrices using genetically engineered elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) and then used them to construct mechanically robust ELP-hydroxyapatite (HAP) composites. ELPs were engineered with well-defined backbone charge distributions by periodic incorporation of negative, positive, or neutral side chains or with HAP-binding octaglutamic acid motifs at one or both protein termini. ELPs exhibited sequence-specific capacities to int

SUBMITTER: Wang E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3672225 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature