Fluid protein condensates for bio-inspired applications

Harrington, Matthew J.; Mezzenga, Raffaele; Miserez, Ali

doi:10.1038/s44222-023-00133-6

Nat Rev Bioeng

2023

DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00133-6

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Fluid protein condensates for bio-inspired applications

Matthew J. Harrington,

Raffaele Mezzenga,

Ali Miserez

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2024

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Cited by 6 publications

References 213 publications

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Materials Inspired by Living Functions

Kostiainen,

Priimagi,

Timonen

et al. 2024

Adv Funct Materials

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Engineering or mimicking living materials found in nature has the potential to transform the use of materials. Unlike classic synthetic materials which are typically optimized for static properties, economics, and recently also for sustainability, materials of life are dynamic, feedback‐controlled, evolving, and adaptive. Although synthetic materials do not typically exhibit such complicated functionalities, researchers are increasingly challenging this viewpoint and expanding material concepts toward dynamic systems inspired by selected life‐like functions. Herein, it is suggested that such materials can be approached from two perspectives: through engineering of biological organisms and their functions to provide the basis for new materials, or by producing synthetic materials with selected rudimentary life‐inspired functions. Current advances are discussed from the perspectives of (i) new material features based on built‐in memory and associative learning, (ii) emergent structures and self‐regulated designs using non‐equilibrium systems, and (iii) interfacing living and non‐living systems in the form of cellular community control and growth to open new routes for material fabrication. Strategies combining (i)–(iii) provide materials with increasingly life‐inspired responses and potential for applications in interactive autonomous devices, helping to realize next‐generation sensors, autonomous and interactive soft robots, and external control over the bioproduction of self‐organizing structural materials.

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Materials Inspired by Living Functions

Kostiainen,

Priimagi,

Timonen

et al. 2024

Adv Funct Materials

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Metastable Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation and Aging Lead to Strong Processing Path Dependence in Mini‐Spidroin Solutions

Fedorov,

Sammalisto,

Harmat

et al. 2024

Adv Funct Materials

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Recombinant silk proteins provide a route toward sustainable and biocompatible materials. For making such materials, the assembly process from dilute protein into a functional material is central. The assembly mechanism in engineered materials is by necessity different from the natural ones—this poses challenges but also opens opportunities for scaling up and for developing novel properties. The phase behavior of a mini‐spidroin, NT‐2Rep‐CT is studied, which is a widely studied variant of recombinant silk. NT‐2Rep‐CT can be triggered to assemble by lowering the pH, but even at high pH—considered as storage conditions—it can be in various states, such as forming condensates, clusters, gels, and soluble protein. It is shown how its assembly phases evolve through both metastable and dynamically arrested states. The observed behavior of silk protein solutions is highly complex, and elements thereof from phase diagrams associated with polymers, colloidal systems, and globular proteins are found. Based on the characterization of cluster formation and structural intermediates, a minimalist phase diagram is proposed for NT‐2Rep‐CT and argues that the understanding and insight into silk assembly via its phase behavior, and especially the arrested states, is central for designing recombinant silk proteins and their processing for materials applications.

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Exploring Stimuli-Responsive Natural Processes for the Fabrication of High-Performance Materials

Tan,

Leow,

Min Wong

et al. 2024

Biomacromolecules

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Climate change and environmental pollution have underscored the urgency for more sustainable alternatives in synthetic polymer production. Nature's repertoire of biopolymers with excellent multifaceted properties alongside biodegradability could inspire next-generation innovative green polymer fabrication routes. Stimuli-induced processing, driven by changes in environmental factors, such as pH, ionic strength, and mechanical forces, plays a crucial role in natural polymeric self-assembly process. This perspective aims to close the gap in understanding biopolymer formation by highlighting the essential role of stimuli triggers in facilitating the bottom-up fabrication, allowing for the formation of intricate hierarchical structures. In particular, this perspective will delve into the stimuli-responsive processing of high-performance biopolymers produced by mussels, caddisflies, velvet worms, sharks, whelks, and squids, which are known for their robust mechanical properties, durability, and wet adhesion capabilities. Finally, we provide an overview of current advancements and challenges in understanding stimuli-induced natural formation pathways and their translation to biomimetic materials.

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Fluid protein condensates for bio-inspired applications

Cited by 6 publications

References 213 publications

Materials Inspired by Living Functions

Materials Inspired by Living Functions

Metastable Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation and Aging Lead to Strong Processing Path Dependence in Mini‐Spidroin Solutions

Exploring Stimuli-Responsive Natural Processes for the Fabrication of High-Performance Materials

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