Fabrication of Genetically Engineered Silk-Elastin-Like Protein Polymer Fibers Available to Purchase

Micro- and submicro-diameter protein fibers are fundamental building blocks of extra- and intra-cellular matrices, providing structural support, stability and protection to cells, tissues and organism [1]. Fabricating performance fibers of both naturally derived and genetically engineered proteins has been extensively pursued for a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery [2]. Silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs), consisting of tandemly repeated polypeptide sequences derived from silk and elastin, have been biosynthesized using recombinant DNA technique [3]. Their potential as a biomaterials in the form of hydrogels continues to be explored [4, 5]. This study will focus on the fabrication of robust, micro-diameter SELP fibers as biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.