Bioinspired and Mechanically Strong Fibers Based on Engineered Non‐Spider Chimeric Proteins. Issue 21 (17th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yuanxin; Li, Jingjing; Sun, Jing; He, Haonan; Li, Bo; Ma, Chao; Liu, Kai; Zhang, Hongjie
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 59:Issue 21(2020)
• Page Start: 8148
• Page End: 8152
• Publication Date: 2020-03-17
• Subjects: elastin -- fibrous proteins -- protein fibers -- protein engineering -- wet spinning; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202002399
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Silk‐protein‐based fibers have attracted considerable interest due to their low weight and extraordinary mechanical properties. Most studies on fibrous proteins focus on the recombinant spidroins, but these fibers exhibit moderate mechanical performance. Thus, the development of alternative structural proteins for the construction of robust fibers is an attractive goal. Herein, we report a class of biological fibers produced using a designed chimeric protein, which consists of the sequences of a cationic elastin‐like polypeptide and a squid ring teeth protein. Remarkably, the chimeric protein fibers exhibit a breaking strength up to about 630 MPa and a corresponding toughness as high as about 130 MJ m −3, making them superior to many recombinant spider silks and even comparable to some native counterparts. Therefore, this strategy is a novel concept for exploring bioinspired ultrastrong protein materials through the development of new types of structural chimeric proteins. Abstract : Mechanically strong biological fibers have been produced using a novel chimeric protein. In stark contrast to traditional polymer fibers, these fibers combine high strength and high toughness. The fibers exhibit a breaking strength up to about 630 MPa and the toughness is as high as about 130 MJ m −3, making them superior to many recombinant spider silks and even comparable to some native counterparts.