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Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Production of Elastin-like Protein Hydrogels for Encapsulation and Immunostaining of Cells in 3D
Published on: May 19, 2018
Highly Elastic and Conductive Human-Based Protein Hybrid Hydrogels
Nasim Annabi1,2,3,4, Su Ryon Shin1,2,3, Ali Tamayol1,2,3
1Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
Abstract:
A highly elastic hybrid hydrogel of methacryloyl-substituted recombinant human tropoelastin (MeTro) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles are developed. The synergistic effect of these two materials significantly enhances both ultimate strain (250%), reversible rotation (9700°), and the fracture energy (38.8 ± 0.8 J m(-2) ) in the hybrid network. Furthermore, improved electrical signal propagation and subsequent contraction of the muscles connected by hybrid hydrogels are observed in ex vivo tests.
