Spider-silk inspired polymeric networks by harnessing the mechanical potential of β-sheets through network guided assembly.

Chan, NJ-A; Gu, D; Tan, S; Fu, Q; Pattison, TG; O'Connor, AJ; Qiao, GG

Spider-silk inspired polymeric networks by harnessing the mechanical potential of β-sheets through network guided assembly.

Chan, NJ-A Gu, D Tan, S Fu, Q

Pattison, TG O'Connor, AJ Qiao, GG

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Publisher:: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Nature communications, 2020, 11, (1)
Issue Date:: 2020-04-02

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Chan, NJ-A
dc.contributor.author	Gu, D
dc.contributor.author	Tan, S
dc.contributor.author	Fu, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4012-330X
dc.contributor.author	Pattison, TG
dc.contributor.author	O'Connor, AJ
dc.contributor.author	Qiao, GG
dc.date.accessioned	2021-03-11T01:36:39Z
dc.date.available	2020-02-24
dc.date.available	2021-03-11T01:36:39Z
dc.date.issued	2020-04-02
dc.identifier.citation	Nature communications, 2020, 11, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	2041-1723
dc.identifier.issn	2041-1723
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/147025
dc.description.abstract	The high toughness of natural spider-silk is attributed to their unique β-sheet secondary structures. However, the preparation of mechanically strong β-sheet rich materials remains a significant challenge due to challenges involved in processing the polymers/proteins, and managing the assembly of the hydrophobic residues. Inspired by spider-silk, our approach effectively utilizes the superior mechanical toughness and stability afforded by localised β-sheet domains within an amorphous network. Using a grafting-from polymerisation approach within an amorphous hydrophilic network allows for spatially controlled growth of poly(valine) and poly(valine-r-glycine) as β-sheet forming polypeptides via N-carboxyanhydride ring opening polymerisation. The resulting continuous β-sheet nanocrystal network exhibits improved compressive strength and stiffness over the initial network lacking β-sheets of up to 30 MPa (300 times greater than the initial network) and 6 MPa (100 times greater than the initial network) respectively. The network demonstrates improved resistance to strong acid, base and protein denaturants over 28 days.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
dc.relation.ispartof	Nature communications
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/s41467-020-15312-x
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Biomechanical Phenomena
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers
dc.subject.mesh	Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
dc.subject.mesh	Silk
dc.subject.mesh	Spiders
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Spiders
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers
dc.subject.mesh	Silk
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
dc.subject.mesh	Biomechanical Phenomena
dc.subject.mesh	Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
dc.subject.mesh	Animals
dc.subject.mesh	Biomechanical Phenomena
dc.subject.mesh	Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
dc.subject.mesh	Polymers
dc.subject.mesh	Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
dc.subject.mesh	Silk
dc.subject.mesh	Spiders
dc.title	Spider-silk inspired polymeric networks by harnessing the mechanical potential of β-sheets through network guided assembly.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-03-11T01:36:29Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

The high toughness of natural spider-silk is attributed to their unique β-sheet secondary structures. However, the preparation of mechanically strong β-sheet rich materials remains a significant challenge due to challenges involved in processing the polymers/proteins, and managing the assembly of the hydrophobic residues. Inspired by spider-silk, our approach effectively utilizes the superior mechanical toughness and stability afforded by localised β-sheet domains within an amorphous network. Using a grafting-from polymerisation approach within an amorphous hydrophilic network allows for spatially controlled growth of poly(valine) and poly(valine-r-glycine) as β-sheet forming polypeptides via N-carboxyanhydride ring opening polymerisation. The resulting continuous β-sheet nanocrystal network exhibits improved compressive strength and stiffness over the initial network lacking β-sheets of up to 30 MPa (300 times greater than the initial network) and 6 MPa (100 times greater than the initial network) respectively. The network demonstrates improved resistance to strong acid, base and protein denaturants over 28 days.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/147025