Elastic protein-based matrices

S Elastic Protein-based Matrices as Devices for Transdermal Delivery... 

The mechanisms whereby the materials function are common to the tissue to be restored, that is, they exhibit the same hydrophobic association as occurs in protein structure formation and function, and the elasticity is due to damping of internal chain dynamics rather than due to random chain networks. As protein function itself is central to cellular function, this allows elastic protein-based materials in concert with natural cells to achieve tissue restoration in a manner entirely coherent with fundamental relationships between cells and their natural extracellular matrix. 

Figure 9.21 exemplifies the nexus between cellular mechano-chemical transduction and elastic protein-based polymers containing cell attachment sequences that enables these temporary functional scaffoldings to result in restoration of natural tissue. Figure 9.21 A shows in the absence of cell attachment sequences that the elastic matrix X -poly(GVGVP) does not support attachment of cells. On inclusion of cell...

As stated in Chapter 9, The consilient approach to tissue engineering utilizes biology s own materials and mechanisms, concerned with tissue structure and function, to achieve tissue restoration. The key materials elements are three the capacity of the elastic protein-based material to match the elastic modulus of the tissue to be restored, a remarkable biocompatibility of the pure elastic protein-based material, and the facility to design into the protein-based polymer sequence any desired biologically active sequence, which, by virtue of the innocuousness of the elastic protein-based material, allows proper expression of the incorporated biologically active sequence. This provides the opportunity for the proper functional relationship of protein-based material to the cells and the extracellular matrix of the tissue to be restored. 

ELRs are a promising model of biocompatible protein-based polymers. The basic structure of ELRs involves a repeating sequence based on the recurring sequences found in the mammalian elastic protein elastin [4]. As far as their properties are concerned, some of their main characteristics are derived from those of the natural protein. Elastin is an extracellular matrix protein that is present in aU vertebrate connective tissue. Its functions include the provision of elasticity and resilience to tissues, such as large elastic blood vessels (aorta), elastic ligaments, lung and skin, which are subjected to repetitive and reversible deformation [5, 6]. 

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