Self-Assembly of Stable Nanoscale Platelets from Designed Elastin-like Peptide-Collagen-like Peptide Bioconjugates

Biomacromolecules. 2019 Apr 8;20(4):1514-1521. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01681. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Abstract

The self-assembly of nanostructures from elastin-like (poly)peptide (ELP) containing block copolymers has been a subject of intense investigation over decades. However, short synthetic ELPs have rarely been used due to their high inverse transition temperature; the use of short ELPs has largely been limited to polymer conjugates. Motivated by our previous work which successfully overcame this barrier by simply conjugating short ELPs with a triple-helix-forming collagen-like peptide, in this study, we further extend the ELP library to a series of ELPs equipped with aromatic residues and having sequences as short as four pentapeptide motifs. The resulting elastin-like peptide-collagen-like peptide (ELP-CLP) bioconjugates unexpectedly self-assembled into nanosized platelets likely by forming a bilayer structure. Given the previously demonstrated ability of many other CLP conjugates to target collagens and the potential for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs in collapsed ELPs, these ELP-CLP nanoplatelets may offer similar opportunities for targeted delivery in biomedical and other arenas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Collagen
  • Elastin / chemistry*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Nanocapsules / chemistry*
  • Nanocapsules / ultrastructure
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry*

Substances

  • Nanocapsules
  • Peptides
  • Collagen
  • Elastin