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Chemically cross-linked hydrogels from repetitive protein arrays
Rossana Boni1, Elizabeth A Blackburn2, Dirk-Jan Kleinjan3
1Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Journal of Structural Biology
|May 28, 2023
Summary
Engineered protein hydrogels mimic native tissues for regeneration. This adaptable biomaterial allows precise control over physical properties and supports cell viability, advancing tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Protein Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Biomaterials for tissue regeneration require mimicking native physiological environments.
- Protein engineering offers a method to create hydrogels with tailored biophysical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize novel protein hydrogels using repetitive engineered proteins.
- To demonstrate the ability to control hydrogel properties by adjusting protein building block ratios.
- To assess the biocompatibility and cell encapsulation capabilities of the developed hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of SpyTag (ST) peptide and repetitive SpyCatcher (SC) protein units to form covalent networks.
- Systematic variation of ST:SC ratios to modulate viscoelastic properties and gelation kinetics.
- Assessment of hydrogel physical properties and biocompatibility using HepG2 cells expressing GFP.
Main Results:
- Successfully engineered repetitive proteins formed covalent molecular networks with tunable physical characteristics.
- Alteration of ST:SC ratios effectively controlled viscoelastic properties and gelation speeds.
- Encapsulated HepG2 cells remained viable and expressed GFP, indicating successful biocompatibility and cell phenotype maintenance.
Conclusions:
- Genetically encoded repetitive proteins provide a versatile platform for creating customizable biomaterials.
- This approach bridges engineering biology and nanotechnology, enabling unprecedented biomaterial customization for tissue regeneration.
- The developed hydrogels show significant potential for applications in liver tissue engineering and beyond.
