Abstract

Engineering shape memory/morphing materials have achieved considerable progress in polymer-based systems with broad potential applications. However, engineering protein-based shape memory/morphing materials remains challenging and under-explored. Here we report the design of a bilayer protein-based shape memory/morphing hydrogel based on protein folding-unfolding mechanism. We fabricate the protein-bilayer structure using two tandem modular elastomeric proteins (GB1)8 and (FL)8. Both protein layers display distinct denaturant-dependent swelling profiles and Young’s moduli. Due to such protein unfolding-folding induced changes in swelling, the bilayer hydrogels display highly tunable and reversible bidirectional bending deformation depending upon the denaturant concentration and layer geometry. Based on these programmable and reversible bending behaviors, we further utilize the protein-bilayer structure as hinge to realize one-dimensional to two-dimensional and two-dimensional to three-dimensional folding transformations of patterned hydrogels. The present work will offer new inspirations for the design and fabrication of novel shape morphing materials.

Highlights

  • Engineering shape memory/morphing materials have achieved considerable progress in polymer-based systems with broad potential applications

  • We report the feasibility of using protein folding–unfolding as a mechanism to engineer shape-morphing protein hydrogels based on the bilayer architecture

  • Design principles to engineer shape-morphing protein hydrogels based on protein folding–unfolding

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Summary

Introduction

Engineering shape memory/morphing materials have achieved considerable progress in polymer-based systems with broad potential applications. (GB1)8/(FL)[8] bilayer hydrogels exhibited shape morphing in response to PBS and GdmCl. To test our design principles of engineering shape-morphing hydrogels based on protein unfolding-folding, we fabricated (GB1)8/(FL)[8] bilayer hydrogel strips with a thickness of 1.2 mm by using a 3D-printed mold.

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