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Using Wool Keratin as a Basic Resist Material to Fabricate Precise Protein Patterns
Author(s) -
Zhu Shuihong,
Zeng Wenbin,
Meng Zhaohui,
Luo Wenhao,
Ma Liyun,
Li Yanran,
Lin Changxu,
Huang Qiaoling,
Lin Youhui,
Liu Xiang Yang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201900870
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , resist , photolithography , photoinitiator , polymer , biomaterial , bioelectronics , keratin , undercut , photoresist , biomolecule , adhesive , structural coloration , surface modification , wool , chemical engineering , biosensor , photonic crystal , optoelectronics , composite material , medicine , monomer , layer (electronics) , pathology , engineering
The ability to pattern natural polymers at different scales is extremely important for many research areas, such as cell culture, regenerative medicine, bioelectronics, tissue engineering, degradable implants, and photonics. For the first time, the use of wool keratin (WK) as a structural biomaterial for fabricating precise protein microarchitectures is presented. Through straightforward biochemical processes, modified WK proteins become intrinsically photoreactive without significant changes in protein structure or function. Under light irradiation, intermolecular chemical crosslinking between WK molecules can be successfully initiated by using commercially available photoinitiators. As a result, high‐performance WK patterning on the micrometer scale (µm) can be achieved through a combination of water‐based photolithography techniques. By simply mixing with nanoparticles, enzymes, and other dopants, various “functional WK resists” can be generated. In addition, without the addition of any cell‐adhesive ligands, these patterned protein microstructures are demonstrated as bio‐friendly cellular substrates for the spatial guidance of cells on their surface. Furthermore, periodic microfabricated WK structures in complex patterns that display typical iridescent behavior can be designed and formed over macroscale areas (cm).