Multi-Layered Films Containing a Biomimetic Stimuli-Responsive Recombinant Protein

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• Elastin-like polymers (ELPs) are stimuli-responsive biopolymers with potential applications in advanced materials.
• Chitosan is a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide widely used in various fields.
• Smart coatings require materials that can dynamically alter their properties in response to environmental cues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate novel multi-layer coatings utilizing electrostatic self-assembly.
• To incorporate a bioproduced recombinant elastin-like polymer (ELP) and chitosan into these coatings.
• To investigate the temperature-responsive behavior of the fabricated multi-layer films.

Main Methods:

• Electrostatic self-assembly and layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition techniques were employed.
• Recombinant ELP was bioproduced, purified, and characterized for purity and molecular weight.
• Light scattering, quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used for characterization.

Main Results:

• The smart properties of the ELP were confirmed through aggregate size measurements as a function of temperature and pH.
• The build-up of multi-layered films was successfully monitored using QCM-D.
• AFM demonstrated that the topography of the ELP-chitosan multi-layer films is responsive to temperature changes.

Conclusions:

• Novel biodegradable smart multi-layer coatings were successfully fabricated using ELP and chitosan.
• The temperature-responsive nature of these coatings was confirmed, highlighting their potential for dynamic applications.
• This research presents new platforms for ELPs in biotechnology and the biomedical field, particularly for smart coatings and films.