title: Mechanically Durable and Biologically Favorable Protein Hydrogel Based on Elastic Silklike Protein Derived from Sea Anemone.
abstract: As biodegradable scaffolds, protein hydrogels have considerable potential, particularly for bioartificial organs and three-dimensional space-filling materials. However, their low strength and stiffness have been considered to be limitations for enduring physiological stimuli. Therefore, protein hydrogels have been commonly utilized as delivery vehicles rather than as supporting materials. In this work, sea anemone tentacle-derived recombinant silk-like protein (aneroin) was evaluated as a potential material for a mechanically durable protein hydrogel. Inspired by the natural hardening mechanism, photoinitiated dityrosine cross-linking was employed to fabricate an aneroin hydrogel. It was determined that the fabricated aneroin hydrogel was approximately 10-fold stiffer than mammalian cardiac or skeletal muscle. The aneroin hydrogel provided not only structural support but also an adequate environment for cells. It exhibited an adequate swelling ability and microstructure, which are beneficial for facilitating mass transport and cell proliferation. Based on its mechanical and biological properties, this aneroin hydrogel could be used in various biomedical applications, such as cell-containing patches, biomolecule carriers, and artificial extracellular matrices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology , Pohang, 790-784, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology , Pohang, 790-784, Korea.|School of Biotechnology and Graduate School of Biochemistry, Yeungnam University , Gyeongsan, 712-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Sup
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology , Pohang, 790-784, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Hyuk
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology , Pohang, 790-784, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006244:Hardness; D006245:Hardness Tests; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000737:chemistry; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D047011:Silk; D014443:Tyrosine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; C007543:dityrosine