Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β-Sheet High-Order Assembly.

ABSTRACT: Protein fibers are ideal alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their unique mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and sustainability. However, engineering biomimetic protein fibers with high mechanical properties remains challenging, particularly in mimicking the high molecular weight of natural proteins and regulating their complex hierarchical structures. Here, a modular design and multi-scale assembly strategy is developed to manufacture robust protein fibers using low- or medium-molecular-weight proteins. The distinct functional and structural properties of flexible, rigid, and cross-linked domains in modular proteins are skillfully harnessed. By regulating the ratio of rigid to flexible domains, the formation of high-order β-sheet crystals aligned along the fiber axis is promot

SUBMITTER: Li M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11633540 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature