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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
Published on: April 8, 2020
Biological Assembly of Modular Protein Building Blocks as Sensing, Delivery, and Therapeutic Agents
Emily A Berckman1,2, Emily J Hartzell1, Alexander A Mitkas1
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA;
Abstract:
Nature has evolved a wide range of strategies to create self-assembled protein nanostructures with structurally defined architectures that serve a myriad of highly specialized biological functions. With the advent of biological tools for site-specific protein modifications and de novo protein design, a wide range of customized protein nanocarriers have been created using both natural and synthetic biological building blocks to mimic these native designs for targeted biomedical applications. In this review, different design frameworks and synthetic decoration strategies for achieving these functional protein nanostructures are summarized. Key attributes of these designer protein nanostructures, their unique functions, and their impact on biosensing and therapeutic applications are discussed.
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