Self-repairing filamentous actin hydrogel with hierarchical structure

Biomacromolecules. 2011 Dec 12;12(12):4173-7. doi: 10.1021/bm2009922. Epub 2011 Nov 4.

Abstract

A chemically cross-linked filamentous actin (F-actin) gel consisting of globular actin (G-actin) as repeating units was prepared. The F-actin gel was cross-linked by covalent bonds, and the main chain is represented by the self-assembly of G-actin with a high-ordered hierarchical structure. The gel exhibited good mechanical performance with a storage modulus >1 kPa and undergoes reversible sol-gel transitions in response to changes in the salt concentration (chemical-induced sol-gel transition) as well as to shear strain (mechanical-induced sol-gel transition). Therefore, the gel exhibits self-repairing ability through dynamic polymerization and depolymerization across the structure hierarchies under repeated shear stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Actins / ultrastructure*
  • Hydrogels / chemical synthesis*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Polymerization
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Stress, Physiological

Substances

  • Actins
  • Hydrogels