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Kucharczyk K, Florczak A, Kaminska A, Guzniczak N, Sikorska A, Deptuch T, Dams-Kozlowska H. MMPs-responsive silk spheres for controlled drug release within tumor microenvironment. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:132016. [PMID: 38697442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Silk is a biocompatible and biodegradable material that enables the formation of various morphological forms, including nanospheres. The functionalization of bioengineered silk makes it possible to produce particles with specific properties. In addition to tumor cells, the tumor microenvironment (TME) includes stromal, immune, endothelial cells, signaling molecules, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are overexpressed in TME. We investigated bioengineered spider silks functionalized with MMP-responsive peptides to obtain targeted drug release from spheres within TME. Soluble silks MS12.2MS1, MS12.9MS1, and MS22.9MS2 and the corresponding silk spheres carrying MMP-2 or MMP-2/9 responsive peptides were produced, loaded with doxorubicin (Dox), and analyzed for their susceptibility to MMP-2/9 digestion. Although all variants of functionalized silks and spheres were specifically degraded by MMP-2/9, the MS22.9MS2 nanospheres showed the highest levels of degradation and release of Dox after enzyme treatment. Moreover, functionalized spheres were degraded in the presence of cancer cells releasing MMP-2/9. In the 2D and 3D spheroid cancer models, the MMP-2/9-responsive substrate was degraded and released from spheres when loaded into MS22.9MS2 particles but not into the control MS2 spheres. The present study demonstrated that a silk-based MMP-responsive delivery system could be used for controlled drug release within the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Kucharczyk
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland; Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Florczak
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland; Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Alicja Kaminska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Natalia Guzniczak
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agata Sikorska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland; Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Deptuch
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland; Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Hanna Dams-Kozlowska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland; Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland.
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2
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Chen Z, Cheng C, Liu L, Lin B, Xiong Y, Zhu W, Zheng K, He B. Tyrosine Mutation in the Characteristic Motif of the Amorphous Region of Spidroin for Self-Assembly Capability Enhancement. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:22441-22449. [PMID: 38799334 PMCID: PMC11112579 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Spidroin, with robust mechanical performance and good biocompatibility, could fulfill broad applications in material science and biomedical fields. Development of miniature spidroin has made abundant fiber production economically feasible, but the mechanical properties of artificial silk still fall short of natural silk. The mechanism behind mechanical properties of spidroin usually focuses on β-microcrystalline regions; the effect of amorphous regions was barely studied. In this study, residue tyrosines (Y) were designed to replace asparagine (N)/glutamic acid (Q) in the characteristic motifs (GGX)n in amorphous regions for performance enhancement of spidroin; the mutants presented lower free energy and significantly exhibited stronger van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, which might result from π-π stacking interactions between the phenyl rings in the side chain of tyrosine. Additionally, the soluble expressions of wild-type spidroin and mutant spidroin were achieved when heterologously expressed in E. coli, with yields of 560 mg/L (2REP), 590 mg/L (2REPM), 240 mg/L (4REP), and 280 mg/L (4REPM). Significantly, secondary structure analysis confirmed that the mutant spidroin more avidly forms more β-sheets than the wild-type spidroin, and aggregation morphology suggested that mutant spidroin displayed better self-assembly capacity and was easier to form artificial spider silk fibers; in particular, self-assembled 4REPM nanofibrils had an average modulus of 11.2 ± 0.35 GPa, about 2 times higher than self-assembled B. mori silk nanofibrils and almost the same as that of native spider dragline silk fibers (10-15 GPa). Thus, we first demonstrated a new influence mechanism of the amorphous region's characteristic motif on the self-assembly and material properties of spidroin. Our study provides a reference for the design of high-performance material proteins and their heterologous preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Chen
- College
of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech
University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Li Liu
- Biomass
Molecular Engineering Center and Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Baoyang Lin
- College
of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Yongji Xiong
- College
of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Weiyu Zhu
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech
University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- Biomass
Molecular Engineering Center and Department of Materials Science and
Engineering, School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China
| | - Bingfang He
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech
University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
- College
of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, China
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Bitar L, Isella B, Bertella F, Bettker Vasconcelos C, Harings J, Kopp A, van der Meer Y, Vaughan TJ, Bortesi L. Sustainable Bombyx mori's silk fibroin for biomedical applications as a molecular biotechnology challenge: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 264:130374. [PMID: 38408575 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Silk is a natural engineering material with a unique set of properties. The major constituent of silk is fibroin, a protein widely used in the biomedical field because of its mechanical strength, toughness and elasticity, as well as its biocompatibility and biodegradability. The domestication of silkworms allows large amounts of fibroin to be extracted inexpensively from silk cocoons. However, the industrial extraction process has drawbacks in terms of sustainability and the quality of the final medical product. The heterologous production of fibroin using recombinant DNA technology is a promising approach to address these issues, but the production of such recombinant proteins is challenging and further optimization is required due to the large size and repetitive structure of fibroin's DNA and amino acid sequence. In this review, we describe the structure-function relationship of fibroin, the current extraction process, and some insights into the sustainability of silk production for biomedical applications. We focus on recent advances in molecular biotechnology underpinning the production of recombinant fibroin, working toward a standardized, successful and sustainable process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Bitar
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany
| | - Benedetta Isella
- Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany; Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC), Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Francesca Bertella
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; B4Plastics, IQ Parklaan 2A, 3650 Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium
| | - Carolina Bettker Vasconcelos
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands; Umlaut GmbH, Am Kraftversorgungsturm 3, 52070 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jules Harings
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Kopp
- Fibrothelium GmbH, Philipsstraße 8, 52068 Aachen, Germany
| | - Yvonne van der Meer
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Ted J Vaughan
- Biomechanics Research Centre (BioMEC), Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Luisa Bortesi
- Maastricht University-Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Urmonderbaan 22, 6167 RD Geleen, the Netherlands.
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Branković M, Zivic F, Grujovic N, Stojadinovic I, Milenkovic S, Kotorcevic N. Review of Spider Silk Applications in Biomedical and Tissue Engineering. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:169. [PMID: 38534854 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9030169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review will present the latest research related to the production and application of spider silk and silk-based materials in reconstructive and regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, with a focus on musculoskeletal tissues, and including skin regeneration and tissue repair of bone and cartilage, ligaments, muscle tissue, peripheral nerves, and artificial blood vessels. Natural spider silk synthesis is reviewed, and the further recombinant production of spider silk proteins. Research insights into possible spider silk structures, like fibers (1D), coatings (2D), and 3D constructs, including porous structures, hydrogels, and organ-on-chip designs, have been reviewed considering a design of bioactive materials for smart medical implants and drug delivery systems. Silk is one of the toughest natural materials, with high strain at failure and mechanical strength. Novel biomaterials with silk fibroin can mimic the tissue structure and promote regeneration and new tissue growth. Silk proteins are important in designing tissue-on-chip or organ-on-chip technologies and micro devices for the precise engineering of artificial tissues and organs, disease modeling, and the further selection of adequate medical treatments. Recent research indicates that silk (films, hydrogels, capsules, or liposomes coated with silk proteins) has the potential to provide controlled drug release at the target destination. However, even with clear advantages, there are still challenges that need further research, including clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Branković
- Institute for Information Technologies, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Liceja Knezevine Srbije 1A, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Fatima Zivic
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Liceja Knezevine Srbije 1A, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Nenad Grujovic
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Liceja Knezevine Srbije 1A, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Ivan Stojadinovic
- Clinic for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Clinical Center, Zmaj Jovina 30, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Svetozara Markovića 69, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Strahinja Milenkovic
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Liceja Knezevine Srbije 1A, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Nikola Kotorcevic
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Liceja Knezevine Srbije 1A, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
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Wu D, Koscic A, Schneider S, Dubini RCA, Rodriguez Camargo DC, Schneider S, Rovó P. Unveiling the Dynamic Self-Assembly of a Recombinant Dragline-Silk-Mimicking Protein. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1759-1774. [PMID: 38343096 PMCID: PMC10934265 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Despite the considerable interest in the recombinant production of synthetic spider silk fibers that possess mechanical properties similar to those of native spider silks, such as the cost-effectiveness, tunability, and scalability realization, is still lacking. To address this long-standing challenge, we have constructed an artificial spider silk gene using Golden Gate assembly for the recombinant bacterial production of dragline-mimicking silk, incorporating all the essential components: the N-terminal domain, a 33-residue-long major-ampullate-spidroin-inspired segment repeated 16 times, and the C-terminal domain (N16C). This designed silk-like protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and cast into films from formic acid. We produced uniformly 13C-15N-labeled N16C films and employed solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for characterization. Thus, we could demonstrate that our bioengineered silk-like protein self-assembles into a film where, when hydrated, the solvent-exposed layer of the rigid, β-nanocrystalline polyalanine core undergoes a transition to an α-helical structure, gaining mobility to the extent that it fully dissolves in water and transforms into a highly dynamic random coil. This hydration-induced behavior induces chain dynamics in the glycine-rich amorphous soft segments on the microsecond time scale, contributing to the elasticity of the solid material. Our findings not only reveal the presence of structurally and dynamically distinct segments within the film's superstructure but also highlight the complexity of the self-organization responsible for the exceptional mechanical properties observed in proteins that mimic dragline silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqing Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Anamaria Koscic
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Schneider
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Romeo C. A. Dubini
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Center
for Nanoscience (CeNS), Faculty of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Diana C. Rodriguez Camargo
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Schneider
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Petra Rovó
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Institute
of Science and Technology Austria, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
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Mi J, Li X, Niu S, Zhou X, Lu Y, Yang Y, Sun Y, Meng Q. High-strength and ultra-tough supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers assembled via specific covalent and reversible hydrogen bonds. Acta Biomater 2024; 176:190-200. [PMID: 38199426 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Achieving ultra-high tensile strength and exceptional toughness is a longstanding goal for structural materials. However, previous attempts using covalent and non-covalent bonds have failed, leading to the belief that these two properties are mutually exclusive. Consequently, commercial fibers have been forced to compromise between tensile strength and toughness, as seen in the differences between nylon and Kevlar. To address this challenge, we drew inspiration from the disparate tensile strength and toughness of nylon and Kevlar, both of which are polyamide fibers, and developed an innovative approach that combines specific intermolecular disulfide bonds and reversible hydrogen bonds to create ultra-strong and ultra-tough polyamide spider silk fibers. Our resulting Supramolecular polyamide spider silk, which has a maximum molecular weight of 1084 kDa, exhibits high tensile strength (1180 MPa) and extraordinary toughness (433 MJ/m3), surpassing Kevlar's toughness 8-fold. This breakthrough presents a new opportunity for the sustainable development of spider silk as an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic commercial fibers, as spider silk is composed of amino acids. Future research could explore the use of these techniques and fundamental knowledge to develop other super materials in various mechanical fields, with the potential to improve people's lives in many ways. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: • By emulating synthetic commercial fibers such as nylon and polyethylene, we have successfully produced supramolecular-weight polyamide spider silk fibers with a molecular weight of 1084 kDa through a unique covalent bond-mediated linear polymerization reaction of spider silk protein molecules. This greatly surpasses the previous record of a maximum molecular weight of 556 kDa. • We obtained supramolecular polyamide spider silk fibers with both high-tensile strength and toughness. The stress at break is 1180 MPa, and the toughness is 8 times that of kevlar, reaching 433 MJ/m3. • Our results challenge the notion that it is impossible to manufacture fibers with both ultra-high tensile strength and ultra-toughness, and provide theoretical guidance for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable structural materials that meet industrial needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Mi
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore,14 Science Drive 4 117543, Singapore
| | - Shiwei Niu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Science and Technology Achievement Incubation Center, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xingping Zhou
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Yihang Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Qing Meng
- College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Xin Jiang 844006, China.
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Connor A, Zha RH, Koffas M. Production and secretion of recombinant spider silk in Bacillus megaterium. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:35. [PMID: 38279170 PMCID: PMC10821235 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02304-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Silk proteins have emerged as versatile biomaterials with unique chemical and physical properties, making them appealing for various applications. Among them, spider silk, known for its exceptional mechanical strength, has attracted considerable attention. Recombinant production of spider silk represents the most promising route towards its scaled production; however, challenges persist within the upstream optimization of host organisms, including toxicity and low yields. The high cost of downstream cell lysis and protein purification is an additional barrier preventing the widespread production and use of spider silk proteins. Gram-positive bacteria represent an attractive, but underexplored, microbial chassis that may enable a reduction in the cost and difficulty of recombinant silk production through attributes that include, superior secretory capabilities, frequent GRAS status, and previously established use in industry. RESULTS In this study, we explore the potential of gram-positive hosts by engineering the first production and secretion of recombinant spider silk in the Bacillus genus. Using an industrially relevant B. megaterium host, it was found that the Sec secretion pathway enables secretory production of silk, however, the choice of signal sequence plays a vital role in successful secretion. Attempts at increasing secreted titers revealed that multiple translation initiation sites in tandem do not significantly impact silk production levels, contrary to previous findings for other gram-positive hosts and recombinant proteins. Notwithstanding, targeted amino acid supplementation in minimal media was found to increase production by 135% relative to both rich media and unaltered minimal media, yielding secretory titers of approximately 100 mg/L in flask cultures. CONCLUSION It is hypothesized that the supplementation strategy addressed metabolic bottlenecks, specifically depletion of ATP and NADPH within the central metabolism, that were previously observed for an E. coli host producing the same recombinant silk construct. Furthermore, this study supports the hypothesis that secretion mitigates the toxicity of the produced silk protein on the host organism and enhances host performance in glucose-based minimal media. While promising, future research is warranted to understand metabolic changes more precisely in the Bacillus host system in response to silk production, optimize signal sequences and promoter strengths, investigate the mechanisms behind the effect of tandem translation initiation sites, and evaluate the performance of this system within a bioreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Connor
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - R Helen Zha
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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Hu X, Li N, Guo S, Zhu M, Zhang X, Wang C, Gong C. Rapid production of chimeric silkworm/spider silk with improved mechanical properties by infection of nonpermissive Bombyx mori with recombinant AcMNPV harboring native-size of spidroin genes. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 256:128466. [PMID: 38035957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Spider silks with excellent mechanical properties attract more attention from scientists worldwide, and the dragline silk that serves as the framework of the spider's web is considered one of the strongest fibers. However, it is unfeasible for large-scale production of spider silk due to its highly territorial, cannibalistic, predatory, and solitary behavior. Herein, to alleviate some of these problems and explore aneasy way to produce spider fibers, we constructed recombinant baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) simultaneously expressing Trichonephila clavipes native ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp-G) and spidroin 1 (MaSp-C) driven by the promoters of silkworm fibroin genes, to infect the nonpermissive Bombyx mori larvae at the fifth instar. MaSp-G and MaSp-C were co-expressed in the posterior silk glands (PSGs) of infected silkworms and successfully secreted into the lumen of the silk gland for fibroin globule assembly. The integration of MaSp-G and MaSp-C into silkworm silk fibers significantly improved the mechanical properties of these chimeric silk fibers, especially the strength and extensibility, which may be caused by the increment of β-sheet in the chimeric silkworm/spider silk fiber. These results demonstrated that silkworms could be developed as the nonpermissive heterologous host for the mass production of chimeric silkworm/spider silk fibers via the recombinant baculovirus AcMNPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Hu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Nan Li
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Sicheng Guo
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Min Zhu
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Life Science, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Chonglong Wang
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Chengliang Gong
- School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology and Ecological Research, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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9
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Thagun C, Suzuki T, Kodama Y, Numata K. C-Terminal Domain Controls Protein Quality and Secretion of Spider Silk in Tobacco Cells. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300011. [PMID: 37409415 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable mechanical strength and extensibility of spider dragline silk spidroins are attributed to the major ampullate silk proteins (MaSp). Although fragmented MaSp molecules have been extensively produced in various heterologous expression platforms for biotechnological applications, complete MaSp molecules are required to achieve instinctive spinning of spidroin fibers from aqueous solutions. Here, a plant cell-based expression platform for extracellular production of the entire MaSp2 protein is developed, which exhibits remarkable self-assembly properties to form spider silk nanofibrils. The engineered transgenic Bright-yellow 2 (BY-2) cell lines overexpressing recombinant secretory MaSp2 proteins yield 0.6-1.3 µg L-1 at 22 days post-inoculation, which is four times higher than those of cytosolic expressions. However, only 10-15% of these secretory MaSp2 proteins are discharged into the culture media. Surprisingly, expression of functional domain-truncated MaSp2 proteins lacking the C-terminal domain in transgenic BY-2 cells increases recombinant protein secretion incredibly, from 0.9 to 2.8 mg L-1 per day within 7 days. These findings demonstrate significant improvement in the extracellular production of recombinant biopolymers such as spider silk spidroins using plant cells. In addition, the results reveal the regulatory roles of the C-terminal domain of MaSp2 proteins in controlling their protein quality and secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonprakun Thagun
- Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Suzuki
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kodama
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, 321-8505, Japan
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Keiji Numata
- Department of Material Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
- Biomacromolecules Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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10
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Xie Q, On Lee S, Vissamsetti N, Guo S, Johnson ME, Fried SD. Secretion-Catalyzed Assembly of Protein Biomaterials on a Bacterial Membrane Surface. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202305178. [PMID: 37469298 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202305178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein-based biomaterials have played a key role in tissue engineering, and additional exciting applications as self-healing materials and sustainable polymers are emerging. Over the past few decades, recombinant expression and production of various fibrous proteins from microbes have been demonstrated; however, the resulting proteins typically must then be purified and processed by humans to form usable fibers and materials. Here, we show that the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis can be programmed to secrete silk through its translocon via an orthogonal signal peptide/peptidase pair. Surprisingly, we discover that this translocation mechanism drives the silk proteins to assemble into fibers spontaneously on the cell surface, in a process we call secretion-catalyzed assembly (SCA). Secreted silk fibers form self-healing hydrogels with minimal processing. Alternatively, the fibers retained on the membrane provide a facile route to create engineered living materials from Bacillus cells. This work provides a blueprint to achieve autonomous assembly of protein biomaterials in useful morphologies directly from microbial factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xie
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sea On Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nitya Vissamsetti
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sikao Guo
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Margaret E Johnson
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephen D Fried
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
- T. C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
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11
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Trossmann VT, Lentz S, Scheibel T. Factors Influencing Properties of Spider Silk Coatings and Their Interactions within a Biological Environment. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:434. [PMID: 37623678 PMCID: PMC10455157 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14080434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials are an indispensable part of biomedical research. However, although many materials display suitable application-specific properties, they provide only poor biocompatibility when implanted into a human/animal body leading to inflammation and rejection reactions. Coatings made of spider silk proteins are promising alternatives for various applications since they are biocompatible, non-toxic and anti-inflammatory. Nevertheless, the biological response toward a spider silk coating cannot be generalized. The properties of spider silk coatings are influenced by many factors, including silk source, solvent, the substrate to be coated, pre- and post-treatments and the processing technique. All these factors consequently affect the biological response of the environment and the putative application of the appropriate silk coating. Here, we summarize recently identified factors to be considered before spider silk processing as well as physicochemical characterization methods. Furthermore, we highlight important results of biological evaluations to emphasize the importance of adjustability and adaption to a specific application. Finally, we provide an experimental matrix of parameters to be considered for a specific application and a guided biological response as exemplarily tested with two different fibroblast cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa T. Trossmann
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
| | - Sarah Lentz
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Straße 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; (V.T.T.); (S.L.)
- Bayreuth Center for Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Materials Center (BayMAT), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
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12
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Arai T, Wada M, Nishiguchi H, Takimura Y, Ishii J. Inducer-free recombinant protein production in Trichoderma reesei: secretory production of endogenous enzymes and heterologous nanobodies using glucose as the sole carbon source. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:103. [PMID: 37208691 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei has been used as a host organism for the production of lignocellulosic biomass-degrading enzymes. Although this microorganism has high potential for protein production, it has not yet been widely used for heterologous recombinant protein production. Transcriptional induction of the cellulase genes is essential for high-level protein production in T. reesei; however, glucose represses this transcriptional induction. Therefore, cellulose is commonly used as a carbon source for providing its degraded sugars such as cellobiose, which act as inducers to activate the strong promoters of the major cellulase (cellobiohydrolase 1 and 2 (cbh1 and cbh2) genes. However, replacement of cbh1 and/or cbh2 with a gene encoding the protein of interest (POI) for high productivity and occupancy of recombinant proteins remarkably impairs the ability to release soluble inducers from cellulose, consequently reducing the production of POI. To overcome this challenge, we first used an inducer-free biomass-degrading enzyme expression system, previously developed to produce cellulases and hemicellulases using glucose as the sole carbon source, for recombinant protein production using T. reesei. RESULTS We chose endogenous secretory enzymes and heterologous camelid small antibodies (nanobody) as model proteins. By using the inducer-free strain as a parent, replacement of cbh1 with genes encoding two intrinsic enzymes (aspartic protease and glucoamylase) and three different nanobodies (1ZVH, caplacizumab, and ozoralizumab) resulted in their high secretory productions using glucose medium without inducers such as cellulose. Based on signal sequences (carrier polypeptides) and protease inhibitors, additional replacement of cbh2 with the nanobody gene increased the percentage of POI to about 20% of total secreted proteins in T. reesei. This allowed the production of caplacizumab, a bivalent nanobody, to be increased to 9.49-fold (508 mg/L) compared to the initial inducer-free strain. CONCLUSIONS In general, whereas the replacement of major cellulase genes leads to extreme decrease in the degradation capacity of cellulose, our inducer-free system enabled it and achieved high secretory production of POI with increased occupancy in glucose medium. This system would be a novel platform for heterologous recombinant protein production in T. reesei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiharu Arai
- Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, 1334 Minato, Wakayama, 640‑8580, Japan.
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
| | - Mayumi Wada
- Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, 1334 Minato, Wakayama, 640‑8580, Japan
| | - Hiroki Nishiguchi
- Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, 1334 Minato, Wakayama, 640‑8580, Japan
| | - Yasushi Takimura
- Biological Science Research, Kao Corporation, 1334 Minato, Wakayama, 640‑8580, Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
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13
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Li J, Jiang B, Chang X, Yu H, Han Y, Zhang F. Bi-terminal fusion of intrinsically-disordered mussel foot protein fragments boosts mechanical strength for protein fibers. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2127. [PMID: 37059716 PMCID: PMC10104820 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37563-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbially-synthesized protein-based materials are attractive replacements for petroleum-derived synthetic polymers. However, the high molecular weight, high repetitiveness, and highly-biased amino acid composition of high-performance protein-based materials have restricted their production and widespread use. Here we present a general strategy for enhancing both strength and toughness of low-molecular-weight protein-based materials by fusing intrinsically-disordered mussel foot protein fragments to their termini, thereby promoting end-to-end protein-protein interactions. We demonstrate that fibers of a ~60 kDa bi-terminally fused amyloid-silk protein exhibit ultimate tensile strength up to 481 ± 31 MPa and toughness of 179 ± 39 MJ*m-3, while achieving a high titer of 8.0 ± 0.70 g/L by bioreactor production. We show that bi-terminal fusion of Mfp5 fragments significantly enhances the alignment of β-nanocrystals, and intermolecular interactions are promoted by cation-π and π-π interactions between terminal fragments. Our approach highlights the advantage of self-interacting intrinsically-disordered proteins in enhancing material mechanical properties and can be applied to a wide range of protein-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyao Li
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Bojing Jiang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Xinyuan Chang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Han Yu
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Yichao Han
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Fuzhong Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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14
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Xiao Z, Connor AJ, Worland AM, Tang YJ, Zha RH, Koffas M. Silk fibroin production in Escherichia coli is limited by a positive feedback loop between metabolic burden and toxicity stress. Metab Eng 2023; 77:231-241. [PMID: 37024071 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the metabolic elasticity and production bottlenecks for recombinant silk proteins in Escherichia coli, we performed a comprehensive characterization of one elastin-like peptide strain (ELP) and two silk protein strains (A5 4mer, A5 16mer). Our approach included 13C metabolic flux analysis, genome-scale modeling, transcription analysis, and 13C-assisted media optimization experiments. Three engineered strains maintained their central flux network during growth, while measurable metabolic flux redistributions (such as the Entner-Doudoroff pathway) were detected. Under metabolic burdens, the reduced TCA fluxes forced the engineered strain to rely more on substrate-level phosphorylation for ATP production, which increased acetate overflow. Acetate (as low as 10 mM) in the media was highly toxic to silk-producing strains, which reduced 4mer production by 43% and 16mer by 84%, respectively. Due to the high toxicity of large-size silk proteins, 16mer's productivity was limited, particularly in the minimal medium. Therefore, metabolic burden, overflow acetate, and toxicity of silk proteins may form a vicious positive feedback loop that fractures the metabolic network. Three solutions could be applied: 1) addition of building block supplements (i.e., eight key amino acids: His, Ile, Phe, Pro, Tyr, Lys, Met, Glu) to reduce metabolic burden; 2) disengagement of growth and production; and 3) use of non-glucose based substrate to reduce acetate overflow. Other reported strategies were also discussed in light of decoupling this positive feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyang Xiao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Alexander J Connor
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Alyssa M Worland
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Yinjie J Tang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
| | - R Helen Zha
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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15
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Tian KK, Qian ZG, Xia XX. Synthetic biology-guided design and biosynthesis of protein polymers for delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 194:114728. [PMID: 36791475 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Vehicles derived from genetically engineered protein polymers have gained momentum in the field of biomedical engineering due to their unique designability, remarkable biocompatibility and excellent biodegradability. However, the design and production of these protein polymers with on-demand sequences and supramolecular architectures remain underexplored, particularly from a synthetic biology perspective. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the art strategies for constructing the highly repetitive genes encoding the protein polymers, and highlight the advanced approaches for metabolically engineering expression hosts towards high-level biosynthesis of the target protein polymers. Finally, we showcase the typical protein polymers utilized to fabricate delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Kai Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Gang Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Hu W, Jia A, Ma S, Zhang G, Wei Z, Lu F, Luo Y, Zhang Z, Sun J, Yang T, Xia T, Li Q, Yao T, Zheng J, Jiang Z, Xu Z, Xia Q, Wang Y. A molecular atlas reveals the tri-sectional spinning mechanism of spider dragline silk. Nat Commun 2023; 14:837. [PMID: 36792670 PMCID: PMC9932165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36545-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of natural silk production in the spider major ampullate (Ma) gland endows dragline silk with extraordinary mechanical properties and the potential for biomimetic applications. However, the precise genetic roles of the Ma gland during this process remain unknown. Here, we performed a systematic molecular atlas of dragline silk production through a high-quality genome assembly for the golden orb-weaving spider Trichonephila clavata and a multiomics approach to defining the Ma gland tri-sectional architecture: Tail, Sac, and Duct. We uncovered a hierarchical biosynthesis of spidroins, organic acids, lipids, and chitin in the sectionalized Ma gland dedicated to fine silk constitution. The ordered secretion of spidroins was achieved by the synergetic regulation of epigenetic and ceRNA signatures for genomic group-distributed spidroin genes. Single-cellular and spatial RNA profiling identified ten cell types with partitioned functional division determining the tri-sectional organization of the Ma gland. Convergence analysis and genetic manipulation further validated that this tri-sectional architecture of the silk gland was analogous across Arthropoda and inextricably linked with silk formation. Collectively, our study provides multidimensional data that significantly expand the knowledge of spider dragline silk generation and ultimately benefit innovation in spider-inspired fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Anqiang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Sanyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guoqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhaoyuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Fang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yongjiang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhisheng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiahe Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Tianfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - TingTing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qinhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ting Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiangyu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zijie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zehui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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17
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Wang Y, Fan J, Wei Z, Xing S. Efficient expression of fusion human epidermal growth factor in tobacco chloroplasts. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:1. [PMID: 36611158 PMCID: PMC9824920 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-022-00771-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chloroplast transformation is a robust technology for the expression of recombinant proteins. Various types of pharmaceutical proteins including growth factors have been reported in chloroplasts via chloroplast transformation approach at high expression levels. However, high expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in chloroplasts with the technology is still unavailable. RESULTS The present work explored the high-level expression of recombinant EGF, a protein widely applied in many clinical therapies, in tobacco chloroplasts. In this work, homoplastic transgenic plants expressing fusion protein GFP-EGF, which was composed of GFP and EGF via a linker, were generated. The expression of GFP-EGF was confirmed by the combination of green fluorescent observation and Western blotting. The achieved accumulation of the recombinant fusion GFP-EGF was 10.21 ± 0.27% of total soluble proteins (1.57 ± 0.05 g kg- 1 of fresh leaf). The chloroplast-derived GFP-EGF was capable of increasing the cell viability of the NSLC cell line A549 and enhancing the phosphorylation level of the EGF receptor in the A549 cells. CONCLUSION The expression of recombinant EGF in tobacco chloroplasts via chloroplast transformation method was achieved at considerable accumulation level. The attempt gives a good example for the application of chloroplast transformation technology in recombinant pharmaceutical protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunpeng Wang
- grid.464388.50000 0004 1756 0215Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033 China
| | - Jieying Fan
- grid.464388.50000 0004 1756 0215Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033 China
| | - Zhengyi Wei
- grid.464388.50000 0004 1756 0215Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033 China ,grid.452720.60000 0004 0415 7259Maize Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007 China
| | - Shaochen Xing
- grid.464388.50000 0004 1756 0215Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033 China
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18
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Tracey CT, Kryuchkova AV, Bhatt TK, Krivoshapkin PV, Krivoshapkina EF. Silk for post-harvest horticultural produce safety and quality control. J FOOD ENG 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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19
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Bargel H, Trossmann VT, Sommer C, Scheibel T. Bioselectivity of silk protein-based materials and their bio-inspired applications. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 13:902-921. [PMID: 36127898 PMCID: PMC9475208 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.13.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Adhesion to material surfaces is crucial for almost all organisms regarding subsequent biological responses. Mammalian cell attachment to a surrounding biological matrix is essential for maintaining their survival and function concerning tissue formation. Conversely, the adhesion and presence of microbes interferes with important multicellular processes of tissue development. Therefore, tailoring bioselective, biologically active, and multifunctional materials for biomedical applications is a modern focus of biomaterial research. Engineering biomaterials that stimulate and interact with cell receptors to support binding and subsequent physiological responses of multicellular systems attracted much interest in the last years. Further to this, the increasing threat of multidrug resistance of pathogens against antibiotics to human health urgently requires new material concepts for preventing microbial infestation and biofilm formation. Thus, materials exhibiting microbial repellence or antimicrobial behaviour to reduce inflammation, while selectively enhancing regeneration in host tissues are of utmost interest. In this context, protein-based materials are interesting candidates due to their natural origin, biological activity, and structural properties. Silk materials, in particular those made of spider silk proteins and their recombinant counterparts, are characterized by extraordinary properties including excellent biocompatibility, slow biodegradation, low immunogenicity, and non-toxicity, making them ideally suited for tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Furthermore, recombinant production technologies allow for application-specific modification to develop adjustable, bioactive materials. The present review focusses on biological processes and surface interactions involved in the bioselective adhesion of mammalian cells and repellence of microbes on protein-based material surfaces. In addition, it highlights the importance of materials made of recombinant spider silk proteins, focussing on the progress regarding bioselectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Bargel
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Vanessa T Trossmann
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christoph Sommer
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Department of Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Prof.-Rüdiger-Bormann-Str. 1, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center of Material Science and Engineering (BayMat), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center of Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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20
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Ramezaniaghdam M, Nahdi ND, Reski R. Recombinant Spider Silk: Promises and Bottlenecks. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:835637. [PMID: 35350182 PMCID: PMC8957953 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.835637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silk threads have exceptional mechanical properties such as toughness, elasticity and low density, which reach maximum values compared to other fibre materials. They are superior even compared to Kevlar and steel. These extraordinary properties stem from long length and specific protein structures. Spider silk proteins can consist of more than 20,000 amino acids. Polypeptide stretches account for more than 90% of the whole protein, and these domains can be repeated more than a hundred times. Each repeat unit has a specific function resulting in the final properties of the silk. These properties make them attractive for innovative material development for medical or technical products as well as cosmetics. However, with livestock breeding of spiders it is not possible to reach high volumes of silk due to the cannibalistic behaviour of these animals. In order to obtain spider silk proteins (spidroins) on a large scale, recombinant production is attempted in various expression systems such as plants, bacteria, yeasts, insects, silkworms, mammalian cells and animals. For viable large-scale production, cost-effective and efficient production systems are needed. This review describes the different types of spider silk, their proteins and structures and discusses the production of these difficult-to-express proteins in different host organisms with an emphasis on plant systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ramezaniaghdam
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadia D. Nahdi
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence livMatS at FIT – Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Ralf Reski,
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21
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Abstract
Natural biological materials provide a rich source of inspiration for building high-performance materials with extensive applications. By mimicking their chemical compositions and hierarchical architectures, the past decades have witnessed the rapid development of bioinspired materials. As a very promising biosourced raw material, silk is drawing increasing attention due to excellent mechanical properties, favorable versatility, and good biocompatibility. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent progress in silk-based bioinspired structural and functional materials. We first give a brief introduction of silk, covering its sources, features, extraction, and forms. We then summarize the preparation and application of silk-based materials mimicking four typical biological materials including bone, nacre, skin, and polar bear hair. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future prospects of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongpu Xu
- Institute of Applied Bioresources, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Utilization and Innovation of Silkworm and Bee Resources of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Weiwei Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Hao Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Corresponding author
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22
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Wei J, Xu L, Wu WH, Sun F, Zhang WB. Genetically engineered materials: Proteins and beyond. Sci China Chem 2022; 65:486-496. [PMID: 35154293 PMCID: PMC8815391 DOI: 10.1007/s11426-021-1183-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Information-rich molecules provide opportunities for evolution. Genetically engineered materials are superior in that their properties are coded within genetic sequences and could be fine-tuned. In this review, we elaborate the concept of genetically engineered materials (GEMs) using examples ranging from engineered protein materials to engineered living materials. Protein-based materials are the materials of choice by nature. Recent progress in protein engineering has led to opportunities to tune their sequences for optimal material performance. Proteins also play a central role in living materials where they act in concert with other biological components as well as nonbiological cofactors, giving rise to living features. While the existing GEMs are often limited to those constructed by building blocks of biological origin, being genetically engineerable does not preclude nonbiologic or synthetic materials, the latter of which have yet to be fully explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wei
- College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, 455000 China
| | - Lianjie Xu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Wen-Hao Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wen-Bin Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
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23
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Jin Q, Pan F, Hu CF, Lee SY, Xia XX, Qian ZG. Secretory production of spider silk proteins in metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum for spinning into tough fibers. Metab Eng 2022; 70:102-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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24
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Zhang Q, Li M, Hu W, Wang X, Hu J. Spidroin-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering: General Approaches and Potential Stem Cell Therapies. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:7141550. [PMID: 34966432 PMCID: PMC8712125 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7141550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spider silks are increasingly gaining interest for potential use as biomaterials in tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Owing to their facile and versatile processability in native and regenerated forms, they can be easily tuned via chemical synthesis or recombinant technologies to address specific issues required for applications. In the past few decades, native spider silk and recombinant silk materials have been explored for a wide range of applications due to their superior strength, toughness, and elasticity as well as biocompatibility, biodegradation, and nonimmunogenicity. Herein, we present an overview of the recent advances in spider silk protein that fabricate biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Beginning with a brief description of biological and mechanical properties of spidroin-based materials and the cellular regulatory mechanism, this review summarizes various types of spidroin-based biomaterials from genetically engineered spider silks and their prospects for specific biomedical applications (e.g., lung tissue engineering, vascularization, bone and cartilage regeneration, and peripheral nerve repair), and finally, we prospected the development direction and manufacturing technology of building more refined and customized spidroin-based protein scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Min Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Wenbo Hu
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Jinlian Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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25
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Moore MJ, Tan RP, Yang N, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Wise SG. Bioengineering artificial blood vessels from natural materials. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:693-707. [PMID: 34887104 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Bioengineering an effective, small diameter (<6 mm) artificial vascular graft for use in bypass surgery when autologous grafts are unavailable remains a persistent challenge. Commercially available grafts are typically made from plastics, which have high strength but lack elasticity and present a foreign surface that triggers undesirable biological responses. Tissue engineered grafts, leveraging decellularized animal vessels or derived de novo from long-term cell culture, have dominated recent research, but failed to meet clinical expectations. More effective constructs that are readily translatable are urgently needed. Recent advances in natural materials have made the production of robust acellular conduits feasible and their use increasingly attractive. Here, we identify a subset of natural materials with potential to generate durable, small diameter vascular grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Moore
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Richard P Tan
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Nianji Yang
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Steven G Wise
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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26
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Sonnleitner D, Sommer C, Scheibel T, Lang G. Approaches to inhibit biofilm formation applying natural and artificial silk-based materials. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2021; 131:112458. [PMID: 34857315 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of penicillin started a new era of health care since it allowed the effective treatment of formerly deadly infections. As a drawback, its overuse led to a growing number of multi-drug resistant pathogens. Challenging this arising threat, material research focuses on the development of microbe-killing or microbe repellent agents implementing such functions directly into materials. Due to their biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity and mechanical strength, silk-based materials are attractive candidates for applications in the biomedical field. Furthermore, it has been observed that silks display high persistency in their natural environment giving reason to suspect that they might be attractive candidates to prevent microbial infestation. The current review describes the process of biofilm formation on medical devices and the most common strategies to prevent it, divided into effects of surface topography, material modification and integrated additives. In this context, recent state of the art developments in the field of natural and artificial silk-based materials with microbe-repellant or antimicrobial properties are addressed. These silk properties are controversially discussed and conclusions are drawn as to which parameters will be decisive for the successful design of new bio-functional materials based on the blueprint of silk proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sonnleitner
- Biopolymer Processing, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Christoph Sommer
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheibel
- Chair of Biomaterials, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Gregor Lang
- Biopolymer Processing, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
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27
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Diverse silk and silk-like proteins derived from terrestrial and marine organisms and their applications. Acta Biomater 2021; 136:56-71. [PMID: 34551332 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Organisms develop unique systems in a given environment. In the process of adaptation, they employ materials in a clever way, which has inspired mankind extensively. Understanding the behavior and material properties of living organisms provides a way to emulate these natural systems and engineer various materials. Silk is a material that has been with human for over 5000 years, and the success of mass production of silkworm silk has realized its applications to medical, pharmaceutical, optical, and even electronic fields. Spider silk, which was characterized later, has expanded the application sectors to textile and military materials based on its tough mechanical properties. Because silk proteins are main components of these materials and there are abundant creatures producing silks that have not been studied, the introduction of new silk proteins would be a breakthrough of engineering materials to open innovative industry fields. Therefore, in this review, we present diverse silk and silk-like proteins and how they are utilized with respect to organism's survival. Here, the range of organisms are not constrained to silkworms and spiders but expanded to other insects, and even marine creatures which produce silk-like proteins that are not observed in terrestrial silks. This viewpoint broadening of silk and silk-like proteins would suggest diverse targets of engineering to design promising silk-based materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Silk has been developed as a biomedical material due to unique mechanical and chemical properties. For decades, silks from various silkworm and spider species have been intensively studied. More recently, other silk and silk-like proteins with different sequences and structures have been reported, not only limited to terrestrial organisms (honeybee, green lacewing, caddisfly, and ant), but also from marine creatures (mussel, squid, sea anemone, and pearl oyster). Nevertheless, there has hardly been well-organized literature on silks from such organisms. Regarding the relationship among sequence-structure-properties, this review addresses how silks have been utilized with respect to organism's survival. Finally, this information aims to improve the understanding of diverse silk and silk-like proteins which can offer a significant interest to engineering fields.
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28
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Withanage S, Savin A, Nikolaeva V, Kiseleva A, Dukhinova M, Krivoshapkin P, Krivoshapkina E. Native Spider Silk-Based Antimicrobial Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:1796. [PMID: 34072375 PMCID: PMC8198725 DOI: 10.3390/polym13111796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel antimicrobial natural polymeric hybrid hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and spider silk (Ss) were prepared using the chemical crosslinking method. The effects of the component ratios on the hydrogel characteristics were observed parallel to the primary physicochemical characterization of the hydrogels with scanning electron microscopic imaging, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements, which confirmed the successful crosslinking, regular porous structure, exact composition, and hydrophilic properties of hyaluronic acid/spider silk-based hydrogels. Further characterizations of the hydrogels were performed with the swelling degree, enzymatic degradability, viscosity, conductivity, and shrinking ability tests. The hyaluronic acid/spider silk-based hydrogels do not show drastic cytotoxicity over human postnatal fibroblasts (HPF). Hydrogels show extraordinary antimicrobial ability on both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. These hydrogels could be an excellent alternative that aids in overcoming antimicrobial drug resistance, which is considered to be one of the major global problems in the biomedical industry. Hyaluronic acid/spider silk-based hydrogels are a promising material for collaborated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug delivery systems for external use. The rheological properties of the hydrogels show shear-thinning properties, which suggest that the hydrogels could be applied in 3D printing, such as in the 3D printing of antimicrobial surgical meshes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Elena Krivoshapkina
- SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, Lomonosova str. 9, 191002 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (S.W.); (A.S.); (V.N.); (A.K.); (M.D.); (P.K.)
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29
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Agnieray H, Glasson J, Chen Q, Kaur M, Domigan L. Recent developments in sustainably sourced protein-based biomaterials. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:953-964. [PMID: 33729443 PMCID: PMC8106505 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Research into the development of sustainable biomaterials is increasing in both interest and global importance due to the increasing demand for materials with decreased environmental impact. This research field utilises natural, renewable resources to develop innovative biomaterials. The development of sustainable biomaterials encompasses the entire material life cycle, from desirable traits, and environmental impact from production through to recycling or disposal. The main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive definition of sustainable biomaterials and to give an overview of the use of natural proteins in biomaterial development. Proteins such as collagen, gelatin, keratin, and silk, are biocompatible, biodegradable, and may form materials with varying properties. Proteins, therefore, provide an intriguing source of biomaterials for numerous applications, including additive manufacturing, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering. We give an insight into current research and future directions in each of these areas, to expand knowledge on the capabilities of sustainably sourced proteins as advanced biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Agnieray
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - J.L. Glasson
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Q. Chen
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - M. Kaur
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L.J. Domigan
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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