Spider-silk inspired polymeric networks by harnessing the mechanical potential of β-sheets through network guided assembly

Nat Commun. 2020 Apr 2;11(1):1630. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15312-x.

Abstract

The high toughness of natural spider-silk is attributed to their unique β-sheet secondary structures. However, the preparation of mechanically strong β-sheet rich materials remains a significant challenge due to challenges involved in processing the polymers/proteins, and managing the assembly of the hydrophobic residues. Inspired by spider-silk, our approach effectively utilizes the superior mechanical toughness and stability afforded by localised β-sheet domains within an amorphous network. Using a grafting-from polymerisation approach within an amorphous hydrophilic network allows for spatially controlled growth of poly(valine) and poly(valine-r-glycine) as β-sheet forming polypeptides via N-carboxyanhydride ring opening polymerisation. The resulting continuous β-sheet nanocrystal network exhibits improved compressive strength and stiffness over the initial network lacking β-sheets of up to 30 MPa (300 times greater than the initial network) and 6 MPa (100 times greater than the initial network) respectively. The network demonstrates improved resistance to strong acid, base and protein denaturants over 28 days.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
  • Silk / chemistry*
  • Spiders

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Silk