Petka, W. A. and Harden, J. L. and Sakata, J. A. and Tirrell, D. A. (1999) Artificial Protein Hydrogel Materials. In: Biomedical materials--drug delivery, implants, and tissue engineering : symposium held November 30-December 1, 1998, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings. No.550. Materials Research Society , Warrendale, PA, pp. 23-28. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150114-143114789
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Abstract
Recombinant DNA methods were used to create a new class of artificial proteins that undergo reversible gelation in response to changes in pH or temperature. These proteins consist of terminal a-helical "leucine zipper" domains flanking a central, water-soluble polyelectrolyte segment. The formation of coiled-coil aggregates of the terminal domains in near-neutral pH solution triggers formation of a polymer hydrogel, with the central polyelectrolyte segment retaining solvent and preventing precipitation of the chains. Dissociation of the coiled-coil aggregates through elevation of pH or temperature causes dissolution of the gel and a return to the viscous behavior characteristic of a polymer solution. The pH and temperature range of the hydrogel state and its viscoelastic properties may be systematically varied through precise changes of the length, composition and charge density of the terminal and central blocks. Such control is of value in designing hydrogels with predetermined physical properties and makes these biosynthetic triblock copolymer systems attractive candidates for use in molecular and cellular encapsulation and in controlled reagent delivery.
Item Type: | Book Section | |||||||||
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Additional Information: | ©1999 Materials Research Society. We acknowledge support by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army Natick Research Development and Engineering Center (to D.A. Tirrell). We thank K. P. McGrath for useful discussions and assistance in the early phase of this project, and D. Wirtz and J. H. van Zanten for the use of DWS facilities. | |||||||||
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Series Name: | Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings | |||||||||
Issue or Number: | 550 | |||||||||
DOI: | 10.1557/PROC-550-23 | |||||||||
Record Number: | CaltechAUTHORS:20150114-143114789 | |||||||||
Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20150114-143114789 | |||||||||
Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. | |||||||||
ID Code: | 53734 | |||||||||
Collection: | CaltechAUTHORS | |||||||||
Deposited By: | Anne Hormann | |||||||||
Deposited On: | 16 Jan 2015 00:55 | |||||||||
Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2021 20:06 |
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