A thermo-responsive, self-assembling biointerface for on demand release of surface-immobilised proteins

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• On-demand capture and release of biomolecules are crucial for advanced applications.
• Existing methods lack precise control over protein immobilization and release.
• Switchable surfaces and complex biomaterials require novel molecular tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a binary self-assembling polypeptide system for reversible protein capture and controlled release.
• To develop thermo-responsive protein tags for stimuli-sensitive surface interactions.
• To create a platform for next-generation biomaterials and targeted drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Engineering a binary polypeptide system comprising a universal protein substrate and a chimeric protein.
• Bio-inspiration from neuronal SNAP25, Syntaxin, and VAMP proteins for system design.
• Construction of chimeric proteins with high affinity, reversible self-assembly, and thermo-responsive release.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated reversible protein capture and immobilization on a solid surface.
• Developed two thermo-responsive tags with distinct melting temperatures (80°C and 45°C).
• Showcased potential for controlled release of proteins triggered by specific temperature increases.

Conclusions:

• The engineered binary polypeptide system offers a versatile platform for controlled protein manipulation.
• The thermo-responsive tags are promising for localized therapeutic protein delivery using external stimuli.
• This work provides a blueprint for designing future functional proteins with predictable responses.