title: Protein gradient films of fibroin and gelatine.
abstract: Gradients are a natural design principle in biological systems that are used to diminish stress concentration where materials of differing mechanical properties connect. An interesting example of a natural gradient material is byssus, which anchors mussels to rocks and other hard substrata. Building upon previous work with synthetic polymers and inspired by byssal threads, protein gradient films are cast using glycerine-plasticized gelatine and fibroin exhibiting a highly reproducible and smooth mechanical gradient, which encompasses a large range of modulus from 160 to 550 MPa. The reproducible production of biocompatible gradient films represents a first step towards medical applications.
authors.affiliation: Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Eileen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lintz
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giesa
authors.forename: Hans-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scheibel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D005780:Gelatin; D005349:Fibroins
keywords: biocompatibility; biomaterials; biopolymers; proteins; structure-property relations