scholarly journals Journal of Functional Biomaterials Best Paper Award 2015

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-397
Author(s):  
Francesco Puoci
Keyword(s):  
Paper Award ◽  
Functional Biomaterials

Self-Assembly of Hydrogels From Elastin-Mimetic Block Copolymers

2002 ◽  
Vol 724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Wright ◽  
R. Andrew McMillan ◽  
Alan Cooper ◽  
Robert P. Apkarian ◽  
Vincent P. Conticello
Keyword(s):  
Block Copolymers ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Triblock Copolymers ◽  
Variable Temperature ◽  
Inverse Temperature ◽  
Temperature Transition ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Inverse Temperature Transition ◽  
Functional Biomaterials

AbstractTriblock copolymers have traditionally been synthesized with conventional organic components. However, triblock copolymers could be synthesized by the incorporation of two incompatible protein-based polymers. The polypeptides would differ in their hydrophobicity and confer unique physiochemical properties to the resultant materials. One protein-based polymer, based on a sequence of native elastin, that has been utilized in the synthesis of biomaterials is poly (Valine-Proline-Glycine-ValineGlycine) or poly(VPGVG) [1]. This polypeptide has been shown to have an inverse temperature transition that can be adjusted by non-conservative amino acid substitutions in the fourth position [2]. By combining polypeptide blocks with different inverse temperature transition values due to hydrophobicity differences, we expect to produce amphiphilic polypeptides capable of self-assembly into hydrogels. Our research examines the design, synthesis and characterization of elastin-mimetic block copolymers as functional biomaterials. The methods that are used for the characterization include variable temperature 1D and 2D High-Resolution-NMR, cryo-High Resolutions Scanning Electron Microscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

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