Vieth S, Bellingham C M, Keeley F W, Hodge S M, Rousseau D
School of Chemical Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Biopolymers. 2007 Feb 15;85(3):199-206. doi: 10.1002/bip.20619.
Elastin is an elastomeric, self-assembling extracellular matrix protein with potential for use in biomaterials applications. Here, we compare the microstructural and tensile properties of the elastin-based recombinant polypeptide (EP) EP20-244 crosslinked with either genipin (GP) or pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). Recombinant EP-based sheets were produced via coacervation and subsequent crosslinking. The micron-scale topography of the GP-crosslinked sheets examined with atomic force microscopy revealed the presence of extensive mottling compared with that of the PQQ-crosslinked sheets, which were comparatively smoother. Confocal microscopy showed that the subsurface porosity in the GP-crosslinked sheets was much more open. GP-crosslinked EP-based sheets exhibited significantly greater tensile strength (P < or = 0.05). Mechanistically, GP appears to yield a higher crosslink density than PQQ, likely due to its capacity to form short-range and long-range crosslinks. In conclusion, GP is able to strongly modulate the microstructural and mechanical properties of elastin-based polypeptide biomaterials forming membranes with mechanical properties similar to native insoluble elastin.
弹性蛋白是一种具有弹性、能自我组装的细胞外基质蛋白，有用于生物材料应用的潜力。在此，我们比较了用京尼平（GP）或吡咯喹啉醌（PQQ）交联的基于弹性蛋白的重组多肽（EP）EP20 - 244的微观结构和拉伸性能。基于重组EP的片材通过凝聚及随后的交联制备而成。用原子力显微镜检查的GP交联片材的微米级形貌显示，与相对更光滑的PQQ交联片材相比，存在大量斑点。共聚焦显微镜显示，GP交联片材的亚表面孔隙更开放。基于GP交联的EP片材表现出显著更高的拉伸强度（P≤0.05）。从机制上讲，GP似乎比PQQ产生更高的交联密度，这可能是由于其形成短程和长程交联的能力。总之，GP能够强烈调节基于弹性蛋白的多肽生物材料的微观结构和力学性能，形成具有与天然不溶性弹性蛋白相似力学性能的膜。
