1
|
Lima LF, Sousa MGDC, Rodrigues GR, de Oliveira KBS, Pereira AM, da Costa A, Machado R, Franco OL, Dias SC. Elastin-like Polypeptides in Development of Nanomaterials for Application in the Medical Field. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2022.874790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are biopolymers formed by amino acid sequences derived from tropoelastin. These biomolecules can be soluble below critical temperatures, forming aggregates at higher temperatures, which makes them an interesting source for the design of different nanobiomaterials. These nanobiomaterials can be obtained from heterologous expression in several organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and plants. Thanks to the many advantages of ELPs, they have been used in the biomedical field to develop nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanocomposites. These nanostructures can be used in multiple applications such as drug delivery systems, treatments of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, tissue repair, and cancer therapy. Thus, this review aims to shed some light on the main advances in elastin-like-based nanomaterials, their possible expression forms, and importance to the medical field.
Collapse
|
2
|
Sugioka Y, Nakamura J, Ohtsuki C, Sugawara-Narutaki A. Thixotropic Hydrogels Composed of Self-Assembled Nanofibers of Double-Hydrophobic Elastin-Like Block Polypeptides. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4104. [PMID: 33921095 PMCID: PMC8071462 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Physically crosslinked hydrogels with thixotropic properties attract considerable attention in the biomedical research field because their self-healing nature is useful in cell encapsulation, as injectable gels, and as bioinks for three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Here, we report the formation of thixotropic hydrogels containing nanofibers of double-hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). The hydrogels are obtained with the double-hydrophobic ELPs at 0.5 wt%, the concentration of which is an order of magnitude lower than those for previously reported ELP hydrogels. Although the kinetics of hydrogel formation is slower for the double-hydrophobic ELP with a cell-binding sequence, the storage moduli G' of mature hydrogels are similar regardless of the presence of a cell-binding sequence. Reversible gel-sol transitions are demonstrated in step-strain rheological measurements. The degree of recovery of the storage modulus G' after the removal of high shear stress is improved by chemical crosslinking of nanofibers when intermolecular crosslinking is successful. This work would provide deeper insight into the structure-property relationships of the self-assembling polypeptides and a better design strategy for hydrogels with desired viscoelastic properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sugioka
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Jin Nakamura
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Chikara Ohtsuki
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Ayae Sugawara-Narutaki
- Department of Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sugawara-Narutaki A, Yasunaga S, Sugioka Y, Le DHT, Kitamura I, Nakamura J, Ohtsuki C. Rheology of Dispersions of High-Aspect-Ratio Nanofibers Assembled from Elastin-Like Double-Hydrophobic Polypeptides. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E6262. [PMID: 31842263 PMCID: PMC6940774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20246262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are promising candidates for fabricating tissue-engineering scaffolds that mimic the extracellular environment of elastic tissues. We have developed a "double-hydrophobic" block ELP, GPG, inspired by non-uniform distribution of two different hydrophobic domains in natural elastin. GPG has a block sequence of (VGGVG)5-(VPGXG)25-(VGGVG)5 that self-assembles to form nanofibers in water. Functional derivatives of GPG with appended amino acid motifs can also form nanofibers, a display of the block sequence's robust self-assembling properties. However, how the block length affects fiber formation has never been clarified. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a novel ELP, GPPG, in which the central sequence (VPGVG)25 is repeated twice by a short linker sequence. The self-assembly behavior and the resultant nanostructures of GPG and GPPG were when compared through circular dichroism spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic rheology measurements revealed that the nanofiber dispersions of both GPG and GPPG at an extremely low concentration (0.034 wt%) exhibited solid-like behavior with storage modulus G' > loss modulus G" over wide range of angular frequencies, which was most probably due to the high aspect ratio of the nanofibers that leads to the flocculation of nanofibers in the dispersion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayae Sugawara-Narutaki
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (D.H.T.L.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Sawako Yasunaga
- Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan;
| | - Yusuke Sugioka
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (D.H.T.L.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Duc H. T. Le
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (D.H.T.L.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Issei Kitamura
- Department of Molecular and Macromolecular Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan;
| | - Jin Nakamura
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (D.H.T.L.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| | - Chikara Ohtsuki
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; (Y.S.); (D.H.T.L.); (J.N.); (C.O.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang W, Yu X, Li Y, Su Z, Jandt KD, Wei G. Protein-mimetic peptide nanofibers: Motif design, self-assembly synthesis, and sequence-specific biomedical applications. Prog Polym Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
5
|
Intracellular construction of topology-controlled polypeptide nanostructures with diverse biological functions. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1276. [PMID: 29097677 PMCID: PMC5668255 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01296-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Topological structures of bio-architectonics and bio-interfaces play major roles in maintaining the normal functions of organs, tissues, extracellular matrix, and cells. In-depth understanding of natural self-assembly mechanisms and mimicking functional structures provide us opportunities to artificially control the natural assemblies and their biofunctions. Here, we report an intracellular enzyme-catalyzed polymerization approach for efficient synthesis of polypeptides and in situ construction of topology-controlled nanostructures. We reveal that the phase behavior and topological structure of polypeptides are encoded in monomeric peptide sequences. Next, we elucidate the relationship between polymerization dynamics and their temperature-dependent topological transition in biological conditions. Importantly, the linearly grown elastin-like polypeptides are biocompatible and aggregate into nanoparticles that exhibit significant molecular accumulation and retention effects. However, 3D gel-like structures with thermo-induced multi-directional traction interfere with cellular fates. These findings allow us to exploit new nanomaterials in living subjects for biomedical applications.
Collapse
|
6
|
Le DHT, Tsutsui Y, Sugawara-Narutaki A, Yukawa H, Baba Y, Ohtsuki C. Double-hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptides with added functional motifs: Self-assembly and cytocompatibility. J Biomed Mater Res A 2017; 105:2475-2484. [PMID: 28486777 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We have recently developed a novel double-hydrophobic elastin-like triblock polypeptide called GPG, designed after the uneven distribution of two different hydrophobic domains found in elastin, an extracellular matrix protein providing elasticity and resilience to tissues. Upon temperature trigger, GPG undergoes a sequential self-assembling process to form flexible beaded nanofibers with high homogeneity and excellent dispersibility in water. Given that GPG might be a potential elastin-mimetic material, we sought to explore the biological activities of this block polypeptide. Besides GPG, several functionalized derivatives were also constructed by fusing functional motifs such as KAAK or KAAKGRGDS at the C-terminal of GPG. Although the added motifs affected the kinetics of fiber formation and β-sheet contents, all three GPGs assembled into beaded nanofibers at the physiological temperature. The resulting GPG nanofibers preserved their beaded structures in cell culture medium; therefore, they were coated on polystyrene substrates to study their cytocompatibility toward mouse embryonic fibroblasts, NIH-3T3. Among the three polypeptides, GPG having the cell-binding motif GRGDS derived from fibronectin showed excellent cell adhesion and cell proliferation properties compared to other conventional materials, suggesting its promising applications as extracellular matrices for mammalian cells. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2475-2484, 2017.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duc H T Le
- Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Venture Business Laboratory, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Yoko Tsutsui
- ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Ayae Sugawara-Narutaki
- Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yukawa
- ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Baba
- ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Institute of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.,Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu, 761-0395, Japan
| | - Chikara Ohtsuki
- Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Johnson T, Koria P. Expression and Purification of Neurotrophin-Elastin-Like Peptide Fusion Proteins for Neural Regeneration. BioDrugs 2016; 30:117-27. [PMID: 26820997 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-016-0159-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or nerve transection injuries pose a major health problem. Neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been shown to improve the outcome of neural injuries in several pre-clinical models, but their use in clinics is limited by the lack of a robust delivery system that enhances their bioavailability and half-life. OBJECTIVES We describe two fusion proteins comprising NGF or BDNF fused with elastin-like peptides (ELPs). The aim of this study was to investigate the biological activity of neurotrophin-ELP (N-ELP) fusion proteins via in vitro culture models. METHODS NGF and BDNF were cloned in front of an elastin-like polypeptide sequence V40C2. These proteins were expressed in bacteria as inclusion bodies. These fusion proteins underwent solubilization via 8 M urea and purification via inverse transition cycling (ITC). We measured the particle size and the effect of temperature on precipitated particles using dynamic light scattering (DLS). We used western blot analysis to confirm the specificity of NGF-ELP to tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) antibody and to confirm the specificity of BDNF-ELP to TrkB antibody. PC12 cells were used to perform a neurite outgrowth assay to determine the biological activity of NGF-ELP. Bioactivity of BDNF-ELP was ascertained via transfecting human epithelial kidney (HEK 293-T) cells to express the TrkB receptor. RESULTS The proteins were successfully purified to high homogeneity by exploiting the phase transition property of ELPs and urea, which solubilize inclusion bodies. Using PC12 neurite outgrowth assay, we further demonstrated that the biological activity of NGF was retained in the fusion. Similarly, BDNF-ELP phosphorylated the TrkB receptor, suggesting the biological activity of BDNF was also retained in the fusion. We further show that owing to the phase transition property of ELPs in the fusion, these proteins self-assembled into nanoparticles at their respective transition temperatures. CONCLUSION These fusion proteins are useful for neural regeneration, as they not only retain the biological activity of the neurotrophin but also self-assemble into nanoparticles, thereby simultaneously serving as drug-delivery vehicles. These nanoparticles can serve as drug depots and will increase bioavailability by limiting neurotrophin loss due to diffusion, thereby allowing controlled spatio-temporal delivery of the neurotrophin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamina Johnson
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Avenue, ENB 118, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Piyush Koria
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Avenue, ENB 118, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
| |
Collapse
|