title: Tailored recombinant elastin-like polymers for advanced biomedical and nano(bio)technological applications.
abstract: The genetic engineering of protein-based polymers is a method that enables, in an easy way, the design of complex and highly functional macromolecules. As examples of this approach, different molecular designs are presented, with increasing degree of complexity, showing how the controlled increase in their complexity yields (multi)functional materials with more selected and sophisticated properties. The simplest designs show interesting properties already, but the adequate introduction of given chemical functions along the polymer chain provides an opportunity to expand the range of properties to enhanced smart behavior and self-assembly. Finally, examples are given where those molecular designs further incorporate selected bioactivities in order to develop materials for the most cutting edge applications in biomedicine and nano(bio)technology.
authors.affiliation: BIOFORGE research group, Dpto. Física de la Materia Condensada, E.T.S.I.I., Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo del Cauce s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reboto
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: J Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cabello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004549:Elastin