title: Elastin-like polypeptides: biomedical applications of tunable biopolymers.
abstract: Artificial repetitive polypeptides have grown in popularity as a bioinspired alternative to synthetic polymers. The genetically encoded synthesis, monodispersity, potential lack of toxicity, and biocompatibility are attractive features of these biopolymers for biological applications. Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are one such class of biopolymers that are of particular interest because of their "smart"-stimuli responsive-properties. Herein, we discuss the genetically encoded design and recombinant synthesis of ELPs that enable precise control of their physicochemical properties and which have led to a wide range of biomedical applications of these biopolymers in the last decade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: MacEwan
authors.forename: Ashutosh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chilkoti
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004549:Elastin