Protein disorder–order interplay to guide the growth of hierarchical mineralized structures

Sherif Elsharkawy, Maisoon Al-Jawad, Maria F. Pantano, Esther Tejeda-Montes, Khushbu Mehta, Hasan Jamal, Shweta Agarwal, Kseniya Shuturminska, Alistair Rice, Nadezda V. Tarakina, Rory M. Wilson, Andy J. Bushby, Matilde Alonso, Jose C. Rodriguez-Cabello, Ettore Barbieri, Armando Río Hernández, Molly M. Stevens, Nicola M. Pugno, Paul Anderson and Alvaro Mata ()
Additional contact information
Sherif Elsharkawy: Queen Mary University of London
Maisoon Al-Jawad: Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
Maria F. Pantano: University of Trento
Esther Tejeda-Montes: Queen Mary University of London
Khushbu Mehta: Queen Mary University of London
Hasan Jamal: Queen Mary University of London
Shweta Agarwal: Imperial College London
Kseniya Shuturminska: Queen Mary University of London
Alistair Rice: Imperial College London
Nadezda V. Tarakina: Queen Mary University of London
Rory M. Wilson: Queen Mary University of London
Andy J. Bushby: Queen Mary University of London
Matilde Alonso: University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN
Jose C. Rodriguez-Cabello: University of Valladolid, CIBER-BBN
Ettore Barbieri: Queen Mary University of London
Armando Río Hernández: Imperial College London
Molly M. Stevens: Imperial College London
Nicola M. Pugno: Queen Mary University of London
Paul Anderson: Queen Mary University of London
Alvaro Mata: Queen Mary University of London

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract A major goal in materials science is to develop bioinspired functional materials based on the precise control of molecular building blocks across length scales. Here we report a protein-mediated mineralization process that takes advantage of disorder–order interplay using elastin-like recombinamers to program organic–inorganic interactions into hierarchically ordered mineralized structures. The materials comprise elongated apatite nanocrystals that are aligned and organized into microscopic prisms, which grow together into spherulite-like structures hundreds of micrometers in diameter that come together to fill macroscopic areas. The structures can be grown over large uneven surfaces and native tissues as acid-resistant membranes or coatings with tuneable hierarchy, stiffness, and hardness. Our study represents a potential strategy for complex materials design that may open opportunities for hard tissue repair and provide insights into the role of molecular disorder in human physiology and pathology.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04319-0

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04319-0

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