title: Biopolymers and supramolecular polymers as biomaterials for biomedical applications.
abstract: Protein- and peptide-based structural biopolymers are abundant building blocks of biological systems. Either in their natural forms, such as collagen, silk or fibronectin, or as related synthetic materials they can be used in various technologies. An emerging area is that of biomimetic materials inspired by protein-based biopolymers, which are made up of small molecules rather than macromolecules and can therefore be described as supramolecular polymers. These materials are very useful in biomedical applications because of their ability to imitate the extracellular matrix both in architecture and their capacity to signal cells. This article describes important features of the natural extracellular matrix and highlight how these features are being incorporated into biomaterials composed of biopolymers and supramolecular polymers. We particularly focus on the structures, properties, and functions of collagen, fibronectin, silk, and the supramolecular polymers inspired by them as biomaterials for regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Simpson Querrey Institute of BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Simpson Querrey Institute of BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Job
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boekhoven
authors.affiliation: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7702.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.affiliation: 711 Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433-7702.
authors.forename: Rajesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.affiliation: Simpson Querrey Institute of BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Departments of Materials and Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Stupp
keywords: biomedical; biomimetic (assembly); nanostructure; self-assembly