Recent Advances in Elastin-Based Biomaterials

Abstract

Elastin is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix; it provides resistance and elasticity to a variety of tissues and organs of the human body, besides participating in cellular signaling. On the other hand, elastin-derived peptides are synthetic biopolymers with a similar conformation and structure to elastin, but these possess the advantage of solubility in aqueous mediums. Due to their biological activities and physicochemical properties, elastin and related peptides may be applied as biomaterials to develop diverse biomedical devices, including scaffolds, hydrogels, and drug delivery systems for tissue engineering. Likewise, the combination of elastin with natural or synthetic polymers has demonstrated to improve the mechanical properties of biomedical products and drug delivery systems. Here we comprehensively describe the physicochemical properties and physiological functions of elastin. Moreover, we offer an overview of the use of elastin and its derivative polymers as biomaterials to develop scaffolds and hydrogels for tissue engineering. Finally, we discuss some perspectives on the employment of these biopolymers to fabricate new biomedical products.

Engenharia de materiais: materializando o futuro

“…É comumente encontrada em tecidos em que a elasticidade é essencial para movimentos de expansão e contração (DAAMEN et al, 2007). Além disso, atua em diversas sinalizações celulares, podendo participar, por exemplo, nos processos de cicatrização e na morfogênese vascular (PRADO-AUDELO et al, 2020).…”

“…Como biomaterial, pode ser utilizada na sua forma insolúvel em enxertos, tanto celularizados quanto descelularizados, na forma hidrolisada ou como sequências de polipeptídeos similares à elastina que mimetizam sua estrutura (DAAMEN et al, 2007;PRADO-AUDELO et al, 2020). Seu uso na engenharia tecidual se baseia em sua inerente biocompatibilidade, degradabilidade por proteases, bioatividade, propriedades mecânicas, estabilidade de longo prazo e potencial de auto-organização em condições fisiológicas (DAAMEN et al, 2007;PRADO-AUDELO et al, 2020).…”

Advances in Fabricating the Electrospun Biopolymer-Based Biomaterials

“…Among the polymers blended with elastin, polyurethanes (PUR), PCL, and collagen can be listed, some of them being the subject of separate reviews [ 98 , 99 ]. In research by Heiny et al [ 100 ], elastin was blended with PUR, obtained from polymerization of l-lactide and poly(ethylene glycol), all dissolved in HFIP.…”

Development of films from natural sources for infections during wound healing

“…Natural polymers for the fabrication of films can include pectin, tamarind seed polysaccharide, fenugreek gum, zein, gelatin, chitosan, carrageenan, alginate, xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum, pullulan, collagen, and elastin, among others (20)(21)(22). In contrast, synthetic options include hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and acrylic derivatives.…”