title: Exploring the Properties of Genetically Engineered Silk-Elastin-Like Protein Films.
abstract: Free standing films of a genetically engineered silk-elastin-like protein (SELP) were prepared using water and formic acid as solvents. Exposure to methanol-saturated air promoted the formation of aggregated β-strands rendering aqueous insolubility and improved the mechanical properties leading to a 10-fold increase in strain-to-failure. The films were optically clear with resistivity values similar to natural rubber and thermally stable up to 180 °C. Addition of glycerol showed to enhance the flexibility of SELP/glycerol films by interacting with SELP molecules through hydrogen bonding, interpenetrating between the polymer chains and granting more conformational freedom. This detailed characterization provides cues for future and unique applications using SELP based biopolymers.
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. raulmachado@bio.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Centro/Departamento de Física, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.|School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sencadas
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Margarida
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Bioforge (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), Universidad de Valladolid, 47011, Valladolid, Spain.|Networking Research Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 47011, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cabello
authors.affiliation: Centro/Departamento de Física, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Senentxu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanceros-Méndez
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. mcasal@bio.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casal
mesh_terms: D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D015202:Protein Engineering; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D047011:Silk; D004549:Elastin
keywords: biopolymers; characterization; films; proteins; silk-elastin-like