Elastin synthetic matrices

The first elastomeric protein is elastin, this structural protein is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, which provides stmctural integrity to the tissues and organs of the body. This highly crosslinked and therefore insoluble protein is the essential element of elastic fibers, which induce elasticity to tissue of lung, skin, and arteries. In these fibers, elastin forms the internal core, which is interspersed with microfibrils [1,2]. Not only this biopolymer but also its precursor material, tropoelastin, have inspired materials scientists for many years. The most interesting characteristic of the precursor is its ability to self-assemble under physiological conditions, thereby demonstrating a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. This specific property has led to the development of a new class of synthetic polypeptides that mimic elastin in its composition and are therefore also known as elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). 

Natural polymers such as collagen, elastin, and fibrin make up much of the body s native extracellular matrix (ECM), and they were explored as platforms for tissue engineered constructs [34,47 9]. Polysaccharides such as chitosan, starch, alginate, and dextran were also studied for these purposes. Simultaneously, silk fibroin was widely explored for vascular applications due to its higher mechanical properties in comparison to other natural polymers, such as fibrin [48]. The utilization of natural polymers to create tissue-engineered scaffolds has yielded promising results, both in vitro and in vivo, due in part to the enhanced bioactivity provided by materials normally found within the human body [50]. However, their mechanical response is usually below the required values therefore, synthetic polymers have been explored to achieve the desired properties. 

Caves, J.M., Kumar, V.A., Martinez, A.W., Kim, J., Ripberger, C.M., Haller, C.A., Chaikof, E.L., 2010. The use of microfiher composites of elastin-like protein matrix reinforced with synthetic collagen in the design of vascular grafts. Biomaterials 31, 7175-7182. 

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