Plastic protein-based polymers

Table 4. Physical properties of elastic and plastic protein-based polymers.

There are as yet no commercial sales of elastic and plastic protein-based polymers, but recent progress in correcting relevant intellectual property rights by the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office will hopefully allow for commercial uses in the near future. Thus, the applications noted below must yet be seen in terms of potential rather than as realized utility. 

D.W. Urry, A. Pattanaik, M.A. Accavitti, C-X. Luan, D.T. McPherson, J. Xu, D.C. Gowda, T.M. Parker, C.M, Harris, and N. Jing, Tl-ansductional Elastic and Plastic Protein-based Polymers as Potential Medical Devices, in Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers, ed. by Domb, Kost, and Wiseman, Harwood Academic Publishers, Chur, Switzerland, pp. 367-386,1997. 

As our studies expanded to consider plastic protein-based polymers with the parent being (AVGVP)n, a small but detectable increase in capacity to elicit formation of monoclonal antibodies was found. Indeed, as A and V was replaced by E and F, however, ease of forming monoclonal antibodies increased, which was consistent with original expectations. Accordingly, the key to the remarkable biocompatibility of elastic protein-based polymers was sought and readily found in experimental data that determined the nature of then-elasticity. 

Obviously, the adverse results of increased morbidity, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and overall health care costs argue for the small investment in coating technology to correct this situation. Just as clearly, elastic and plastic protein-based polymers could eliminate the majority of these adverse consequences. 

Certain compositions of plastic protein-based polymers can be prepared that melt rather than decompose, as protein materials normally do... 

Transductional Elastic and Plastic Protein-based Polymers as Potential Medical Devices... 

TRANSDUCTIONAL ELASTIC AND PLASTIC PROTEIN-BASED POLYMERS AS POTENTIAL MEDICAL DEVICES... 

In this brief review of the elastic and plastic protein-based polymers, the chemical and microbial syntheses of these pohmers are noted several of the more commonly used physical characterizations of these polymers are described the important biological characterizations of biocompatibility (toxicity), immunogenicity, and biodegradability are considered, and the applications of drug delivery and tissue reconstruction are discussed. 

Immunogenicity of Representative Elastic and Plastic Protein-Based Polymers... 

Just as there are innumerable w ays of varying Tj, there are innumerable tvays of achieving controlled release of drug. One specific means of controlled release using transductional elastic and plastic protein-based polymers involves ion-pairing. 

Urry, Dan W., McPhersttn, David X, Xu, Jie, Gowda, D. Channe and Parker, Timothy M. (1995a) Elastic and plastic protein-based polymers Potential for industrial uses, (.Am. Chem. Soc.) Div. Polym. Mat. Sci. Engr., Industrial Biotechnological Polymers, Washington, D.C., 259-281. 

Urry, D.W. et al, Transductional elastic and plastic protein-based polymers as potential medical devices, in Drug Targeting and Delivery, Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers, Domb, A.)., Kost, and Wiseman, D.M. (Eds.), Harwood Academic Publ., Amsterdam, 1997, pp. 367-86. 

Elastic, plastic, and hydrogel-forming protein-based polymers... 

C.-H. Luan and D.W. Urry, Elastic, Plastic, and Hydrogel Protein-based Polymers. In Polymer Data Handbook, J.E. Mark, Ed., 1999, Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 78-89, Tables 1 and 3a. 

Produced from renewable resources Living organisms—E. coli, yeast, plants, and animals—can be designed to produce protein-based polymers. Protein-based polymers can be produced with renewable resources. They can be prepared without resorting to toxic and noxious chemicals, and they can be programmed for a desired biodegradation. For example, they can mean food for the fishes rather than death to marine life, as occurs with present plastics. Thus, protein-based polymers can be environmentally friendly for their complete life cycle, from production to disposal. 

Protein-based polymers have the potential to surpass the polyesters and other polymers because they can be directly produced in microorganisms and plants by recombinant DNA technology resulting in the capacity for diverse and precisely controlled composition and sequence. This is not possible with any other polymer, and it increases range of properties and the numbers of applications. Remarkably, with the proper design of composition, protein-based materials can be thermoplastics, melting at temperatures as much as 100°C below their decomposition temperatures. Therefore, they can be molded, extruded, or drawn into shapes as desired. Aspects of protein-based materials as plastics is also considered below. 

The opportunity for using protein-based polymers as biomaterials for medical applications comes with demonstration of the biocompatibility of the basic hydrogel and elastic and plastic states of the protein-based polymers, and it comes with the capacity to produce protein-based polymers by microbial fermentation with sufficiently low-cost production for a broad range of medical applications. 

Greater Immimological Response to Plastic Than to Elastic Protein-based Polymers... 

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