Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

16 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Engineering shape memory and morphing protein hydrogels based on protein unfolding and folding.

ABSTRACT: Engineering shape memory/morphing materials have achieved considerable progress in polymer-based systems with broad potential applications. However, engineering protein-based shape memory/morphing materials remains challenging and under-explored. Here we report the design of a bilayer protein-based shape memory/morphing hydrogel based on protein folding-unfolding mechanism. We fabricate the protein-bilayer structure using two tandem modular elastomeric proteins (GB1)₈ and (FL)₈. Both protein layers display distinct denaturant-dependent swelling profiles and Young's moduli. Due to such protein unfolding-folding induced changes in swelling, the bilayer hydrogels display highly tunable and reversible bidirectional bending deformation depending upon the denaturant concentration and layer geometry. Based on these programmable and reversible bending behaviors, we further utilize the protein-bilayer structure as hinge to realize one-dimensional to two-dimensional and two-dimensional to three-dimensional folding transformations of patterned hydrogels. The present work will offer new inspirations for the design and fabrication of novel shape morphing materials.

SUBMITTER: Bian Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8748998 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

Cation-induced shape programming and morphing in protein-based hydrogels.

Project description:Smart materials that are capable of memorizing a temporary shape, and morph in response to a stimulus, have the potential to revolutionize medicine and robotics. Here, we introduce an innovative method to program protein hydrogels and to induce shape changes in aqueous solutions at room temperature. We demonstrate our approach using hydrogels made from serum albumin, the most abundant protein in the blood plasma, which are synthesized in a cylindrical or flower shape. These gels are then programmed into a spring or a ring shape, respectively. The programming is performed through a marked change in stiffness (of up to 17-fold), induced by adsorption of Zn2+ or Cu2+ cations. We show that these programmed biomaterials can then morph back into their original shape, as the cations diffuse outside the hydrogel material. The approach demonstrated here represents an innovative strategy to program protein-based hydrogels to behave as actuators.

| S-EPMC7190360 | biostudies-literature

Guiding Cell Network Assembly using Shape-Morphing Hydrogels.

Project description:Forces and relative movement between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) are crucial to the self-organization of tissues during development. However, the spatial range over which these dynamics can be controlled in engineering approaches is limited, impeding progress toward the construction of large, structurally mature tissues. Herein, shape-morphing materials called "kinomorphs" that rationally control the shape and size of multicellular networks are described. Kinomorphs are sheets of ECM that change their shape, size, and density depending on patterns of cell contractility within them. It is shown that these changes can manipulate structure-forming behaviors of epithelial cells in many spatial locations at once. Kinomorphs are built using a new photolithographic technology to pattern single cells into ECM sheets that are >10× larger than previously described. These patterns are designed to partially mimic the branch geometry of the embryonic kidney epithelial network. Origami-inspired simulations are then used to predict changes in kinomorph shapes. Last, kinomorph dynamics are shown to provide a centimeter-scale program that sets specific spatial locations in which ≈50 µm-diameter epithelial tubules form by cell coalescence and structural maturation. The kinomorphs may significantly advance organ-scale tissue construction by extending the spatial range of cell self-organization in emerging model systems such as organoids.

| S-EPMC7950730 | biostudies-literature

Chemical unfolding of protein domains induces shape change in programmed protein hydrogels.

Project description:Programmable behavior combined with tailored stiffness and tunable biomechanical response are key requirements for developing successful materials. However, these properties are still an elusive goal for protein-based biomaterials. Here, we use protein-polymer interactions to manipulate the stiffness of protein-based hydrogels made from bovine serum albumin (BSA) by using polyelectrolytes such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly-L-lysine (PLL) at various concentrations. This approach confers protein-hydrogels with tunable wide-range stiffness, from ~10-64 kPa, without affecting the protein mechanics and nanostructure. We use the 6-fold increase in stiffness induced by PEI to program BSA hydrogels in various shapes. By utilizing the characteristic protein unfolding we can induce reversible shape-memory behavior of these composite materials using chemical denaturing solutions. The approach demonstrated here, based on protein engineering and polymer reinforcing, may enable the development and investigation of smart biomaterials and extend protein hydrogel capabilities beyond their conventional applications.

| S-EPMC6884551 | biostudies-literature

Inside-Out 3D Reversible Ion-Triggered Shape-Morphing Hydrogels.

Project description:Shape morphing is a critical aptitude for the survival of organisms and is determined by anisotropic tissue composition and directional orientation of micro- and nanostructures within cell walls, resulting in different swelling behaviors. Recent efforts have been dedicated to mimicking the behaviors that nature has perfected over billions of years. We present a robust strategy for preparing 3D periodically patterned single-component sodium alginate hydrogel sheets cross-linked with Ca2+ ions, which can reversibly deform and be retained into various desirable inside-out shapes as triggered by biocompatible ions (Na+/Ca2+). By changing the orientations of the patterned microchannels or triggering with Na+/Ca2+ ions, various 3D twisting, tubular, and plant-inspired architectures can be facilely programmed. Not only can the transformation recover their initial shapes reversibly, but also it can keep the designated shapes without continuous stimuli. These inside-out 3D reversible ion-triggered hydrogel transformations shall inspire more attractive applications in tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and soft robotics fields.

| S-EPMC6750057 | biostudies-literature

Shape morphing of hydrogels by harnessing enzyme enabled mechanoresponse.

Project description:Hydrogels have been designed to react to many different stimuli which find broad applications in tissue engineering and soft robotics. However, polymer networks bearing mechano-responsiveness, especially those displaying on-demand self-stiffening and self-softening behavior, are rarely reported. Here, we design a mechano-controlled biocatalytic system at the molecular level that is incorporated into hydrogels to regulate their mechanical properties at the material scale. The biocatalytic system consists of the protease thrombin and its inhibitor, hirudin, which are genetically engineered and covalently coupled to the hydrogel networks. The catalytic activity of thrombin is reversibly switched on by stretching of the hydrogels, which disrupts the noncovalent inhibitory interaction between both entities. Under cyclic tensile-loading, hydrogels exhibit self-stiffening or self-softening properties when substrates are present that can self-assemble to form new networks after being activated by thrombin or when cleavable peptide crosslinkers are constitutional components of the original network, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrate the programming of bilayer hydrogels to exhibit tailored shape-morphing behavior under mechanical stimulation. Our developed system provides proof of concept for mechanically controlled reversible biocatalytic processes, showcasing their potential for regulating hydrogels and proposing a biomacromolecular strategy for mechano-regulated soft functional materials.

| S-EPMC10764310 | biostudies-literature

Shape-Morphing Photoresponsive Hydrogels Reveal Dynamic Topographical Conditioning of Fibroblasts.

Project description:The extracellular environment defines a physical boundary condition with which cells interact. However, to date, cell response to geometrical environmental cues is largely studied in static settings, which fails to capture the spatiotemporally varying cues cells receive in native tissues. Here, a photoresponsive spiropyran-based hydrogel is presented as a dynamic, cell-compatible, and reconfigurable substrate. Local stimulation with blue light (455 nm) alters hydrogel swelling, resulting in on-demand reversible micrometer-scale changes in surface topography within 15 min, allowing investigation into cell response to controlled geometry actuations. At short term (1 h after actuation), fibroblasts respond to multiple rounds of recurring topographical changes by reorganizing their nucleus and focal adhesions (FA). FAs form primarily at the dynamic regions of the hydrogel; however, this propensity is abolished when the topography is reconfigured from grooves to pits, demonstrating that topographical changes dynamically condition fibroblasts. Further, this dynamic conditioning is found to be associated with long-term (72 h) maintenance of focal adhesions and epigenetic modifications. Overall, this study offers a new approach to dissect the dynamic interplay between cells and their microenvironment and shines a new light on the cell's ability to adapt to topographical changes through FA-based mechanotransduction.

| S-EPMC10625123 | biostudies-literature

Universal Strategy for Designing Shape Memory Hydrogels.

Project description:Smart polymeric biomaterials have been the focus of many recent biomedical studies, especially those with adaptability to defects and potential to be implanted in the human body. Herein we report a versatile and straightforward method to convert non-thermoresponsive hydrogels into thermoresponsive systems with shape memory ability. As a proof of concept, a thermoresponsive polyurethane mesh was embedded within a methacrylated chitosan (CHTMA), gelatin (GELMA), laminarin (LAMMA) or hyaluronic acid (HAMA) hydrogel network, which afforded hydrogel composites with shape memory ability. With this system, we achieved good to excellent shape fixity ratios (50-90%) and excellent shape recovery ratios (∼100%, almost instantaneously) at body temperature (37 °C). Cytocompatibility tests demonstrated good viability either with cells on top or encapsulated during all shape memory processes. This straightforward approach opens a broad range of possibilities to convey shape memory properties to virtually any synthetic or natural-based hydrogel for several biological and nonbiological applications.

| S-EPMC9777886 | biostudies-literature

Programmable adhesion and morphing of protein hydrogels for underwater robots.

Project description:Soft robots capable of efficiently implementing tasks in fluid-immersed environments hold great promise for diverse applications. However, it remains challenging to achieve robotization that relies on dynamic underwater adhesion and morphing capability. Here we propose the construction of such robots with designer protein materials. Firstly, a resilin-like protein is complexed with polyoxometalate anions to form hydrogels that can rapidly switch between soft adhesive and stiff non-adhesive states in aqueous environments in response to small temperature variation. To realize remote control over dynamic adhesion and morphing, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are then integrated into the hydrogels to form soft robots with photothermal and magnetic responsiveness. These robots are demonstrated to undertake complex tasks including repairing artificial blood vessel, capturing and delivering multiple cargoes in water under cooperative control of infrared light and magnetic field. These findings pave an avenue for the creation of protein-based underwater robots with on-demand functionalities.

| S-EPMC10764313 | biostudies-literature

Shape-morphing living composites.

Project description:This work establishes a means to exploit genetic networks to create living synthetic composites that change shape in response to specific biochemical or physical stimuli. Baker's yeast embedded in a hydrogel forms a responsive material where cellular proliferation leads to a controllable increase in the composite volume of up to 400%. Genetic manipulation of the yeast enables composites where volume change on exposure to l-histidine is 14× higher than volume change when exposed to d-histidine or other amino acids. By encoding an optogenetic switch into the yeast, spatiotemporally controlled shape change is induced with pulses of dim blue light (2.7 mW/cm2). These living, shape-changing materials may enable sensors or medical devices that respond to highly specific cues found within a biological milieu.

| S-EPMC6968942 | biostudies-literature

Shape-morphing nanocomposite origami.

Project description:Nature provides a vast array of solid materials that repeatedly and reversibly transform in shape in response to environmental variations. This property is essential, for example, for new energy-saving technologies, efficient collection of solar radiation, and thermal management. Here we report a similar shape-morphing mechanism using differential swelling of hydrophilic polyelectrolyte multilayer inkjets deposited on an LBL carbon nanotube (CNT) composite. The out-of-plane deflection can be precisely controlled, as predicted by theoretical analysis. We also demonstrate a controlled and stimuli-responsive twisting motion on a spiral-shaped LBL nanocomposite. By mimicking the motions achieved in nature, this method offers new opportunities for the design and fabrication of functional stimuli-responsive shape-morphing nanoscale and microscale structures for a variety of applications.

| S-EPMC4049491 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data