Heparin as a Bundler in a Self-Assembled Fibrous Network of Functionalized Protein-Based Polymers

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Jun 13;17(6):2063-72. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00276. Epub 2016 May 23.

Abstract

Nature shows excellent control over the mechanics of fibrous hydrogels by assembling protein fibers into bundles of well-defined dimensions. Yet, obtaining artificial materials displaying controlled bundling remains a challenge. Here, we developed genetically engineered protein-based polymers functionalized with heparin-binding KRSR domains and show controlled bundling using heparin as a binder. The protein polymer forms fibers upon increasing the pH to physiological values and at higher concentrations fibrous gels. We show that addition of heparin to the protein polymer with incorporated KRSR domains, induces bundling, which results in faster gel formation and stiffer gels. The interactions are expected to be primarily electrostatic and fiber bundling has an optimum when the positive charges of KRSR are approximately in balance with the negative charges of the heparin. Our study suggests that, generally, a straightforward method to control the properties of fibrous gels is to prepare a fiber former with specific binding domains and then simply adding an appropriate amount of binder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dynamic Light Scattering
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Heparin / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels* / chemical synthesis
  • Hydrogels* / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Pichia / chemistry
  • Polymers* / chemical synthesis
  • Polymers* / chemistry
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Engineering

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Hydrogels
  • Oligopeptides
  • Polymers
  • lysyl-arginyl-seryl-arginine
  • Heparin