Co-assembly, spatiotemporal control and morphogenesis of a hybrid protein-peptide system.
Controlling molecular interactions between bioinspired molecules can enable the development of new materials with higher complexity and innovative properties. Here we report on a dynamic system that emerges from the conformational modification of an elastin-like protein by peptide amphiphiles and with the capacity to access, and be maintained in, non-equilibrium for substantial periods of time. The system enables the formation of a robust membrane that displays controlled assembly and disassembly capabilities, adhesion and sealing to surfaces, self-healing and the capability to undergo morphogenesis into tubular structures with high spatiotemporal control. We use advanced microscopy along with turbidity and spectroscopic measurements to investigate the mechanism of assembly and its relation to the distinctive membrane architecture and the resulting dynamic properties. Using cell-culture experiments with endothelial and adipose-derived stem cells, we demonstrate the potential of this system to generate complex bioactive scaffolds for applications such as tissue engineering.
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.|Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Karla E
KE
Inostroza-Brito
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
Estelle
E
Collin
Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz, Institute for Nanoscale Science &Technology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
Orit
O
Siton-Mendelson
Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Katherine H
KH
Smith
Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Amàlia
A
Monge-Marcet
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.|3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.
Daniela S
DS
Ferreira
Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Raúl Pérez
RP
Rodríguez
BIOFORGE Group, University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN, Valladolid 47011, Spain.
Matilde
M
Alonso
BIOFORGE Group, University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN, Valladolid 47011, Spain.
José Carlos
JC
Rodríguez-Cabello
3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.
Rui L
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4295-6129
RL
Reis
Departament de Química Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
Francesc
F
Sagués
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.|Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
Lorenzo
L
Botto
Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ilze Katz, Institute for Nanoscale Science &Technology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
Ronit
R
Bitton
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.|3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.|ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal.|Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
Helena S
HS
Azevedo
School of Engineering &Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.|Nanotechnology Platform, Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.|Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
Alvaro
A
Mata
D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins