(315f) Integration of Calcium Responsiveness into Self-Healing Protein Hydrogels through Consensus Repeat Sequence Engineering
AIChE Annual Meeting
2021
2021 Annual Meeting
Materials Engineering and Sciences Division
Hydrogel Biomaterials: Design and Characterization
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 - 2:00pm to 2:18pm
Here, we generate fusion proteins comprising calcium-responsive BRTs and crosslinking domains that promote hydrogel formation. A BRT mutation panel modifies the asparagine (N) residue in position 5; this residue is hypothesized to influence BRT responsiveness due to its proximity to the calcium-binding aspartic acid in position 6. The mutation panel explores the role of charge and hydrophobicity on calcium ion-actuated structural changes. Crosslinking domains consist of dynamic, associative motifs that give rise to self-healing and shear-thinning hydrogel properties. We investigate sequenceâproperty relationships using circular dichroism and shear rheology, which enable the quantification of calcium-responsive stiffness. Overall, protein hydrogels containing calcium-responsive repeat motifs provide a tunable, modular, and naturally derived material platform with promise to mimic the dynamic chemo-mechanical environment of muscle and nerve tissues.