Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly

Abstract Protein fibers are ideal alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their unique mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and sustainability. However, engineering biomimetic protein fibers with high mechanical properties remains challenging, particularly in mimicking the high molecular weigh...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ming Li, Dawen Qin, Jing Chen, Bo Jia, Zheng Wei, Yi Zhang, Wenhao Cheng, Qianqian Liu, Fan Wang, Jingjing Li, Hongjie Zhang, Kai Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410199
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850062052366745600
author Ming Li
Dawen Qin
Jing Chen
Bo Jia
Zheng Wei
Yi Zhang
Wenhao Cheng
Qianqian Liu
Fan Wang
Jingjing Li
Hongjie Zhang
Kai Liu
author_facet Ming Li
Dawen Qin
Jing Chen
Bo Jia
Zheng Wei
Yi Zhang
Wenhao Cheng
Qianqian Liu
Fan Wang
Jingjing Li
Hongjie Zhang
Kai Liu
author_sort Ming Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Protein fibers are ideal alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their unique mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and sustainability. However, engineering biomimetic protein fibers with high mechanical properties remains challenging, particularly in mimicking the high molecular weight of natural proteins and regulating their complex hierarchical structures. Here, a modular design and multi‐scale assembly strategy is developed to manufacture robust protein fibers using low‐ or medium‐molecular‐weight proteins. The distinct functional and structural properties of flexible, rigid, and cross‐linked domains in modular proteins are skillfully harnessed. By regulating the ratio of rigid to flexible domains, the formation of high‐order β‐sheet crystals aligned along the fiber axis is promoted, enhancing both strength and toughness. Furthermore, the dynamic imine cross‐linking network, formed by the aldehyde‐amine condensation reaction of the cross‐linked domains, further reinforces the protein fibers. Remarkably, fibers spun from modular proteins significantly smaller than natural spidroin exhibit outstanding mechanical properties, surpassing those of protein fibers with same or even higher molecular weights. This strategy offers a promising pathway for fabricating protein fibers suitable for diverse applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-c135c58e204b44cea89e5d4105794c39
institution DOAJ
issn 2198-3844
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advanced Science
spelling doaj-art-c135c58e204b44cea89e5d4105794c392025-08-20T02:50:00ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442024-12-011146n/an/a10.1002/advs.202410199Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order AssemblyMing Li0Dawen Qin1Jing Chen2Bo Jia3Zheng Wei4Yi Zhang5Wenhao Cheng6Qianqian Liu7Fan Wang8Jingjing Li9Hongjie Zhang10Kai Liu11State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaFuwai Hospital National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100084 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaState Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun 130022 ChinaAbstract Protein fibers are ideal alternatives to synthetic polymers due to their unique mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and sustainability. However, engineering biomimetic protein fibers with high mechanical properties remains challenging, particularly in mimicking the high molecular weight of natural proteins and regulating their complex hierarchical structures. Here, a modular design and multi‐scale assembly strategy is developed to manufacture robust protein fibers using low‐ or medium‐molecular‐weight proteins. The distinct functional and structural properties of flexible, rigid, and cross‐linked domains in modular proteins are skillfully harnessed. By regulating the ratio of rigid to flexible domains, the formation of high‐order β‐sheet crystals aligned along the fiber axis is promoted, enhancing both strength and toughness. Furthermore, the dynamic imine cross‐linking network, formed by the aldehyde‐amine condensation reaction of the cross‐linked domains, further reinforces the protein fibers. Remarkably, fibers spun from modular proteins significantly smaller than natural spidroin exhibit outstanding mechanical properties, surpassing those of protein fibers with same or even higher molecular weights. This strategy offers a promising pathway for fabricating protein fibers suitable for diverse applications.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410199β‐sheet assemblybiological fibersprotein engineeringresilinspidroin
spellingShingle Ming Li
Dawen Qin
Jing Chen
Bo Jia
Zheng Wei
Yi Zhang
Wenhao Cheng
Qianqian Liu
Fan Wang
Jingjing Li
Hongjie Zhang
Kai Liu
Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
Advanced Science
β‐sheet assembly
biological fibers
protein engineering
resilin
spidroin
title Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
title_full Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
title_fullStr Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
title_full_unstemmed Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
title_short Engineered Protein Fibers with Reinforced Mechanical Properties Via β‐Sheet High‐Order Assembly
title_sort engineered protein fibers with reinforced mechanical properties via β sheet high order assembly
topic β‐sheet assembly
biological fibers
protein engineering
resilin
spidroin
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410199
work_keys_str_mv AT mingli engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT dawenqin engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT jingchen engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT bojia engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT zhengwei engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT yizhang engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT wenhaocheng engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT qianqianliu engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT fanwang engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT jingjingli engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT hongjiezhang engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly
AT kailiu engineeredproteinfiberswithreinforcedmechanicalpropertiesviabsheethighorderassembly