2.5 Elastin-Like Polypeptides

Elastin-like polypeptides are a family of stimuli-responsive biopolymers that have been extensively studied for biomedical applications. Derived from tropoelastin, they mimic many of elastin’s remarkable material properties, yet can be designed with a molecular precision surpassing synthetic polymers. Their biocompatibility and stimuli-responsive phase behavior have allowed them to be used in a variety of biomedical applications ranging from self-assembling, drug-loaded nanoparticles to injectable cell scaffolds and drug depots.