Design of synthetic collagens that assemble into supramolecular banded fibers as a functional biomaterial testbed.

ABSTRACT: Collagens are the most abundant proteins of the extracellular matrix, and the hierarchical folding and supramolecular assembly of collagens into banded fibers is essential for mediating cell-matrix interactions and tissue mechanics. Collagen extracted from animal tissues is a valuable commodity, but suffers from safety and purity issues, limiting its biomaterials applications. Synthetic collagen biomaterials could address these issues, but their construction requires molecular-level control of folding and supramolecular assembly into ordered banded fibers, comparable to those of natural collagens. Here, we show an innovative class of banded fiber-forming synthetic collagens that recapitulate the morphology and some biological properties of natural collagens. The synthetic collagens compris

SUBMITTER: Hu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9646729 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature