Integration of Calcium Responsiveness into Self-Healing Protein Hydrogels through Consensus Repeat Sequence Engineering

- Type: Conference Presentation
- Conference Type: AIChE Annual Meeting
- Presentation Date: November 9, 2021
- Duration: 18 minutes
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- PDHs: 0.50
Here, we generate fusion proteins comprising calcium-responsive BRTs and crosslinking domains that promote hydrogel formation. A BRT mutation panel modifies the asparagine (N) residue in position 5; this residue is hypothesized to influence BRT responsiveness due to its proximity to the calcium-binding aspartic acid in position 6. The mutation panel explores the role of charge and hydrophobicity on calcium ion-actuated structural changes. Crosslinking domains consist of dynamic, associative motifs that give rise to self-healing and shear-thinning hydrogel properties. We investigate sequenceâproperty relationships using circular dichroism and shear rheology, which enable the quantification of calcium-responsive stiffness. Overall, protein hydrogels containing calcium-responsive repeat motifs provide a tunable, modular, and naturally derived material platform with promise to mimic the dynamic chemo-mechanical environment of muscle and nerve tissues.
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