Stimulus responsive elastin biopolymers: Applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are artificial polypeptides, derived from Val-Pro-Gly-Xaa-Gly (VPGXG) pentapeptide repeats found in human tropoelastin, that reversibly coacervate above a critical temperature. Genetically encodable ELPs are monodisperse, stimuli responsive, and biocompatible, properties that make them attractive for drug delivery and tissue engineering. The potential of ELPs to self-assemble into nanostructures in response to environmental triggers is another interesting feature of these polypeptides that promises to lead to a host of new applications.
Chilkoti
Ashutosh
A
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0281, USA. chilkoti@duke.edu
Christensen
Trine
T
MacKay
J Andrew
JA
D001709:Biotechnology; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004549:Elastin