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Microstructural and tensile properties of elastin‐based polypeptides crosslinked with Genipin and pyrroloquinoline quinone
Author(s) -
Vieth S.,
Bellingham C. M.,
Keeley F. W.,
Hodge S. M.,
Rousseau D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.20619
Subject(s) - elastin , genipin , pyrroloquinoline quinone , chemistry , coacervate , ultimate tensile strength , extracellular matrix , adhesion , biophysics , polymer chemistry , materials science , composite material , biochemistry , organic chemistry , enzyme , chitosan , medicine , pathology , biology , cofactor
Abstract Elastin is an elastomeric, self‐assembling extracellular matrix protein with potential for use in biomaterials applications. Here, we compare the microstructural and tensile properties of the elastin‐based recombinant polypeptide (EP) EP20‐244 crosslinked with either genipin (GP) or pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). Recombinant EP‐based sheets were produced via coacervation and subsequent crosslinking. The micron‐scale topography of the GP‐crosslinked sheets examined with atomic force microscopy revealed the presence of extensive mottling compared with that of the PQQ‐crosslinked sheets, which were comparatively smoother. Confocal microscopy showed that the subsurface porosity in the GP‐crosslinked sheets was much more open. GP‐crosslinked EP‐based sheets exhibited significantly greater tensile strength (P ≤ 0.05). Mechanistically, GP appears to yield a higher crosslink density than PQQ, likely due to its capacity to form short‐range and long‐range crosslinks. In conclusion, GP is able to strongly modulate the microstructural and mechanical properties of elastin‐based polypeptide biomaterials forming membranes with mechanical properties similar to native insoluble elastin. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 85: 199–206, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com