Genetic Engineering of Protein-Based Polymers: The Example of Elastinlike Polymers

Abstract

In spite of the enormous possibilities of macromolecules as key elements in developing advancedmaterials with increased functionality and complexity, the success in this development is often limitedby the randomness associated with polymer synthesis and the exponential increase in technical difficultiescaused by the attempt to reach a sufficiently high degree of complexity in the molecular design.This paper describes a new approach in the design of complex and highly functional macromolecules,the genetic engineering of protein-based macromolecules. The exploitation of the efficient machineryof protein synthesis in living cells opens a path to obtain extremely well-defined and complexmacromolecules. Different molecular designs are presented, with increasing degree of complexity,showing how the controlled increase in their complexity yields (multi)functional materials with moreselect and sophisticated properties. The simplest designs show interesting properties already, butthe adequate introduction of given chemical functions along the polymer chain presents an opportunityto expand the range of properties to enhanced smart behavior and self-assembly. Finally, examplesare given where those molecular designs further incorporate selected bioactivities in order to developmaterials for the most cutting-edge applications in the field of biomedicine and nano(bio)technology.