Wet-spinning of recombinant silk-elastin-like protein polymer fibers with high tensile strength and high deformability

Biomacromolecules. 2009 Mar 9;10(3):602-8. doi: 10.1021/bm801296r.

Abstract

A recombinant silk-elastin-like protein copolymer SELP-47K containing tandemly repeated amino acid sequence blocks from silk, GAGAGS, and elastin, GVGVP, was fabricated into microdiameter fibers using a wet-spinning technique. Raman spectral analysis revealed the formation of antiparallel beta-sheet crystals of the silk-like blocks. Dry SELP-47K fibers display the dependence of mechanical properties such as Young's modulus on fiber diameter, suggesting more oriented and crystallized molecular chains in small-diameter fibers. Additionally, a brittle fracture mode was identified for dry fibers by SEM analysis of fracture surfaces. Hydration dramatically influenced the mechanical behavior of SELP-47K fibers. In contrast to the high tensile strength and limited strains to failure of dry fibers, fully hydrated SELP-47K fibers possessed strains to failure as high as 700%. Furthermore, upon chemical cross-linking, a tensile mechanical strength up to 20 MPa was achieved in hydrated fibers without compromising their high deformability. By combing the silk- and elastin-derived sequences into a single SELP-47K protein polymer, we demonstrated that protein fibers with high tensile strength and high deformability can be fabricated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemical synthesis
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Biopolymers / chemistry*
  • Elastin / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemical synthesis
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Pliability
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemical synthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Silk / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tensile Strength
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Biopolymers
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Silk
  • Water
  • Elastin