title: Elastin-Based Rubber-Like Hydrogels.
abstract: We developed rubber-like elastomeric materials using a natural elastin derived sequence and genetic engineering to create precisely defined elastin-like polypeptides. The coiled elastin-like polypeptide chains, which behave like entropic springs, were cross-linked using an end-to-end tethering scheme to synthesize simple hydrogels with excellent extensibility and reversibility. Our hydrogels extend to strains as high as 1500% and remain highly resilient with elastic recovery as high as 94% even at 600% strain, significantly exceeding any other protein-based hydrogel. These materials are valuable as elastomeric hydrogels for designing extremely robust scaffolds useful for tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Malav S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Eddie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Hyo-Eon
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.|Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720 United States.
authors.forename: Seung-Wuk
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012408:Rubber / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides; D012408:Rubber; D004549:Elastin