Elastin-based biopolymers for biomedical and biotechnological applications

Perhaps the most appealing opportunity is represented by gaining inspiration from nature for the precise tailoring of biomaterials with finely tuned unique functional properties. A very promising model is represented by Human Elastin-Like Polypeptides (HELP), repetitive artificial polypeptides based on pentaor hexapeptidic motifs that characterize elastin. These protein polymers retain several peculiar biophysical properties as, the reversible inverse phase transition, changing the solubility and aggregation state in response to temperature variation. The smart nature of this class of compounds makes them attractive for many applications in the biomedical and biotechnological fields, in particular for biomaterial development. The Trans2Care project aiming to translating scientific and technological expertise into products for the biomedical field represents an exciting and challenging environment to best exploit the potential these biomimetic macromolecules. Index Terms — recombinant protein, elastin, biomimetic strategy, advanced biomaterials ——————————  —————————— TRANS2CARE – Workpackage 8 dissemination