Autoclaving as a chemical-free process to stabilize recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymer nanofibers.

We report here that autoclaving is a chemical-free, physical crosslinking strategy capable of stabilizing electrospun recombinant silk-elastinlike protein (SELP) polymer nanofibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the autoclaving of SELP nanofibers induced a conformational conversion of β-turns and unordered structures to ordered β-sheets. Tensile stress-strain analysis of the autoclaved SELP nanofibrous scaffolds in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C revealed a Young's modulus of 1.02 ± 0.28 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 0.34 ± 0.04 MPa, and a strain at failure of 29% ± 3%.

[1]  Xiaoyi Wu,et al.  Optically transparent recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymer films. , 2011, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[2]  Weibing Teng,et al.  Complete recombinant silk-elastinlike protein-based tissue scaffold. , 2010, Biomacromolecules.

[3]  Xiaoyi Wu,et al.  Recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymer displays elasticity comparable to elastin. , 2009, Biomacromolecules.

[4]  Xiaoyi Wu,et al.  Wet-spinning of recombinant silk-elastin-like protein polymer fibers with high tensile strength and high deformability. , 2009, Biomacromolecules.

[5]  Pak Kin Wong,et al.  Evaporation-induced assembly of biomimetic polypeptides , 2008 .

[6]  S. Rammensee,et al.  Assembly mechanism of recombinant spider silk proteins , 2008, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[7]  P. Taddei,et al.  Vibrational infrared conformational studies of model peptides representing the semicrystalline domains of Bombyx mori silk fibroin , 2005, Biopolymers.

[8]  Hamidreza Ghandehari,et al.  In vitro and in vivo evaluation of recombinant silk-elastinlike hydrogels for cancer gene therapy. , 2004, Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society.

[9]  K. Woodhouse,et al.  Recombinant human elastin polypeptides self‐assemble into biomaterials with elastin‐like properties , 2003, Biopolymers.

[10]  David L. Kaplan,et al.  Mechanism of silk processing in insects and spiders , 2003, Nature.

[11]  David L Kaplan,et al.  Silk-based biomaterials. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[12]  T. Yamane,et al.  Heterogeneous structure of silk fibers from Bombyx mori resolved by 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy. , 2002, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[13]  J. Gosline,et al.  Elastic proteins: biological roles and mechanical properties. , 2002, Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences.

[14]  J. Cappello,et al.  In-situ self-assembling protein polymer gel systems for administration, delivery, and release of drugs. , 1998, Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society.

[15]  David L. Kaplan,et al.  Protein-Based Materials , 1997, Bioengineering of Materials.

[16]  H. Susi,et al.  Examination of the secondary structure of proteins by deconvolved FTIR spectra , 1986, Biopolymers.

[17]  John M. Gosline,et al.  Elastin as a random‐network elastomer: A mechanical and optical analysis of single elastin fibers , 1981 .

[18]  Shigeo Nakamura,et al.  Physical properties and structure of silk. VI. Conformational changes in silk fibroin induced by immersion in water at 2 to 130°c , 1979 .

[19]  Franco A. Ferrari,et al.  Biosynthesis of Protein Polymers , 1997 .