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Li M, Li J, Liu K, Zhang H. Artificial structural proteins: Synthesis, assembly and material applications. Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107162. [PMID: 38308999 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107162] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Structural proteins have evolved over billions of years and offer outstanding mechanical properties, such as resilience, toughness and stiffness. Advances in modular protein engineering, polypeptide modification, and synthetic biology have led to the development of novel biomimetic structural proteins to perform in biomedical and military fields. However, the development of customized structural proteins and assemblies with superior performance remains a major challenge, due to the inherent limitations of biosynthesis, difficulty in mimicking the complexed macroscale assembly, etc. This review summarizes the approaches for the design and production of biomimetic structural proteins, and their chemical modifications for multiscale assembly. Furthermore, we discuss the function tailoring and current applications of biomimetic structural protein assemblies. A perspective of future research is to reveal how the mechanical properties are encoded in the sequences and conformations. This review, therefore, provides an important reference for the development of structural proteins-mimetics from replication of nature to even outperforming nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Engineering Research Center of Advanced Rare Earth Materials, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Gaspar-Morales EA, Waterston A, Sadqi M, Diaz-Parga P, Smith AM, Gopinath A, Andresen Eguiluz RC, de Alba E. Natural and Engineered Isoforms of the Inflammasome Adaptor ASC Form Noncovalent, pH-Responsive Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5563-5577. [PMID: 37930828 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00409] [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] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The protein ASC polymerizes into intricate filament networks to assemble the inflammasome, a filamentous multiprotein complex that triggers the inflammatory response. ASC carries two Death Domains integrally involved in protein self-association for filament assembly. We have leveraged this behavior to create noncovalent, pH-responsive hydrogels of full-length, folded ASC by carefully controlling the pH as a critical factor in the polymerization process. We show that natural variants of ASC (ASC isoforms) involved in inflammasome regulation also undergo hydrogelation. To further demonstrate this general capability, we engineered proteins inspired by the ASC structure that also form hydrogels. We analyzed the structural network of the natural and engineered protein hydrogels using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and studied their viscoelastic behavior using shear rheology. Our results reveal one of the very few examples of hydrogels created by the self-assembly of globular proteins and domains in their native conformation and show that Death Domains can be used alone or as building blocks to engineer bioinspired hydrogels.
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Lu Y, Chen Y, Zhu Y, Zhao J, Ren K, Lu Z, Li J, Hao Z. Stimuli-Responsive Protein Hydrogels: Their Design, Properties, and Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4652. [PMID: 38139904 PMCID: PMC10747532 DOI: 10.3390/polym15244652] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-based hydrogels are considered ideal biomaterials due to their high biocompatibility, diverse structure, and their improved bioactivity and biodegradability. However, it remains challenging to mimic the native extracellular matrices that can dynamically respond to environmental stimuli. The combination of stimuli-responsive functionalities with engineered protein hydrogels has facilitated the development of new smart hydrogels with tunable biomechanics and biological properties that are triggered by cyto-compatible stimuli. This review summarizes the recent advancements of responsive hydrogels prepared from engineered proteins and integrated with physical, chemical or biological responsive moieties. We underscore the design principles and fabrication approaches of responsive protein hydrogels, and their biomedical applications in disease treatment, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are briefly discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in this field are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yuhe Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yuhan Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jingyi Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ketong Ren
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhao Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jun Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ziyang Hao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Z.)
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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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Garcia Garcia C, Patkar SS, Wang B, Abouomar R, Kiick KL. Recombinant protein-based injectable materials for biomedical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 193:114673. [PMID: 36574920 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Injectable nanocarriers and hydrogels have found widespread use in a variety of biomedical applications such as local and sustained biotherapeutic cargo delivery, and as cell-instructive matrices for tissue engineering. Recent advances in the development and application of recombinant protein-based materials as injectable platforms under physiological conditions have made them useful platforms for the development of nanoparticles and tissue engineering matrices, which are reviewed in this work. Protein-engineered biomaterials are highly customizable, and they provide distinctly tunable rheological properties, encapsulation efficiencies, and delivery profiles. In particular, the key advantages of emerging technologies which harness the stimuli-responsive properties of recombinant polypeptide-based materials are highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristobal Garcia Garcia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Sai S Patkar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Ramadan Abouomar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Kristi L Kiick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19176, USA.
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Garanger E, Lecommandoux S. Emerging opportunities in bioconjugates of Elastin-like polypeptides with synthetic or natural polymers. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 191:114589. [PMID: 36323382 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114589] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Nature is an everlasting source of inspiration for chemical and polymer scientists seeking to develop ever more innovative materials with greater performances. Natural structural proteins are particularly scrutinized to design biomimetic materials. Often characterized by repeat peptide sequences, that together interact by inter- and intramolecular interactions and form a 3D skeleton, they contribute to the mechanical properties of individual cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms. (Numata, K. Polymer Journal 2020, 52, 1043-1056) Among them elastin, and its main repeat sequences, have been a source of intense studies for more than 50 years resulting in the specific research field dedicated to elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). These are currently widely investigated in different applications, namely protein purification, tissue engineering, and drug delivery, and some technologies based on ELPs are currently explored by several start-up companies. In the present review, we have summarized pioneering contributions on ELPs, progress made in their genetic engineering, and understanding of their thermal behavior and self-assembly properties. Considered as intrinsically disordered protein polymers, we have finally focused on the works where ELPs have been conjugated to other synthetic macromolecules as covalent hybrid, statistical, graft, or block copolymers, highlighting the huge opportunities that have still not been explored so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Garanger
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, ENSCBP, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, Pessac F-33600, France.
| | - Sébastien Lecommandoux
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, ENSCBP, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, Pessac F-33600, France.
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Arndt T, Jaudzems K, Shilkova O, Francis J, Johansson M, Laity PR, Sahin C, Chatterjee U, Kronqvist N, Barajas-Ledesma E, Kumar R, Chen G, Strömberg R, Abelein A, Langton M, Landreh M, Barth A, Holland C, Johansson J, Rising A. Spidroin N-terminal domain forms amyloid-like fibril based hydrogels and provides a protein immobilization platform. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4695. [PMID: 35970823 PMCID: PMC9378615 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant spider silk proteins (spidroins) have multiple potential applications in development of novel biomaterials, but their multimodal and aggregation-prone nature have complicated production and straightforward applications. Here, we report that recombinant miniature spidroins, and importantly also the N-terminal domain (NT) on its own, rapidly form self-supporting and transparent hydrogels at 37 °C. The gelation is caused by NT α-helix to β-sheet conversion and formation of amyloid-like fibrils, and fusion proteins composed of NT and green fluorescent protein or purine nucleoside phosphorylase form hydrogels with intact functions of the fusion moieties. Our findings demonstrate that recombinant NT and fusion proteins give high expression yields and bestow attractive properties to hydrogels, e.g., transparency, cross-linker free gelation and straightforward immobilization of active proteins at high density. Recombinant spider silks are of interest but the multimodal and aggregation-prone nature of them is a limitation. Here, the authors report on a miniature spidroin based on the N-terminal domain which forms a hydrogel at 37 °C which allows for ease of production and fusion protein modification to generate functional biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Arndt
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Olga Shilkova
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Juanita Francis
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Mathias Johansson
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden, Box 7015
| | - Peter R Laity
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Cagla Sahin
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Urmimala Chatterjee
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Edgar Barajas-Ledesma
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Maud Langton
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden, Box 7015
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Andreas Barth
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chris Holland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, Blickagången 16, Huddinge, 141 52, Sweden. .,Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden.
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Tian KK, Huang SC, Xia XX, Qian ZG. Fibrous Structure and Stiffness of Designer Protein Hydrogels Synergize to Regulate Endothelial Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:1777-1788. [PMID: 35312276 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Matrix stiffness and fibrous structure provided by the native extracellular matrix have been increasingly appreciated as important cues in regulating cell behaviors. Recapitulating these physical cues for cell fate regulation remains a challenge due to the inherent difficulties in making mimetic hydrogels with well-defined compositions, tunable stiffness, and structures. Here, we present two series of fibrous and porous hydrogels with tunable stiffness based on genetically engineered resilin-silk-like and resilin-like protein polymers. Using these hydrogels as substrates, the mechanoresponses of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to stiffness and fibrous structure were systematically studied. For both hydrogel series, increasing compression modulus from 8.5 to 14.5 and 23 kPa consistently promoted cell proliferation and differentiation. Nonetheless, the promoting effects were more pronounced on the fibrous gels than their porous counterparts at all three stiffness levels. More interestingly, even the softest fibrous gel (8.5 kPa) allowed the stem cells to exhibit higher endothelial differentiation capability than the toughest porous gel (23 kPa). The predominant role of fibrous structure on the synergistic regulation of endothelial differentiation was further explored. It was found that the stiffness signal activated Yes-associated protein (YAP), the main regulator of endothelial differentiation, via spreading of focal adhesions, whereas fibrous structure reinforced YAP activation by promoting the maturation of focal adhesions and associated F-actin alignment. Therefore, our results shed light on the interplay of physical cues in regulating stem cells and may guide the fabrication of designer proteinaceous matrices toward regenerative medicine.
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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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Chen Huang
- 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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, 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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, 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, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
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Li B, Wang Y, Wang Z, He Y, Song P, Wang R. Preparation and Properties of Hydrogels Based on Lignosulfonate and Its Efficiency of Drug Delivery. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202101829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bozhen Li
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yusheng Wang
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zejun Wang
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yufeng He
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Pengfei Song
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Rongmin Wang
- Key Lab. Eco-functional Polymer Materials of MOE, Institute of Polymer College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Northwest Normal University Lanzhou 730070, China
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