Fibrin Fibers: Strong, Elastic and Novel Biomaterials

该奖项由查佩尔山的北卡罗来纳州大学材料研究部的生物材料项目授予，旨在研究以下内容：1）使用天然和基因工程纤维蛋白原确定控制纤维蛋白纤维机械性能的分子机制，其中重复单元的长度和氨基酸序列是不同的;和2）探索静电纺丝在产生纤维蛋白纤维中的应用，以用于生产具有新的机械性能的多功能生物材料。最近的研究表明，血凝块的主要蛋白质成分纤维蛋白纤维具有显著的延展性和弹性。 当可溶性血浆蛋白纤维蛋白原被凝血酶蛋白酶转化为纤维蛋白单体时，这些纤维形成。 纤维素单体自发地组装成可以通过转氨酶FXIIIa交联的纤维。 为了研究纤维蛋白单纤维的力学性能，将双荧光/原子力显微镜用于单纤维的视觉检查和机械操作。 将进行纤维蛋白单体的静电纺丝，以研究强力和弹性纤维的产生。 随后，静电纺丝纤维蛋白纤维的机械性能将通过许多方法进行改性，例如改变反应条件，添加酶催化剂如转氨酶，以及掺入复合材料。 学生-博士，研究生和本科生-在这个奖项上工作将获得与材料科学，生物工程，纳米科学，蛋白质化学和聚合物物理相关的知识和技能。 早期的研究表明，由纤维蛋白原（一种可溶性血液蛋白成分）形成的纤维蛋白纤维非常坚固和有弹性。 这一发现表明，纤维蛋白纤维可能是有用的生物降解和生物相容性材料。 拟议研究的第一部分将研究赋予这些纤维显著强度和弹性的基本机制。 第二部分将确定这些纤维是否可以通过静电纺丝制成，以及如何使用这种技术来制造其他纤维，这些纤维可用于生产坚固和灵活的纤维蛋白基材料。 在这个奖项工作的学生将接触到一个不寻常的教育环境，物理科学和生物科学都是必不可少的。 预计这些研究将提供在各种重要的生物材料和生物医学应用中利用纤维蛋白纤维所需的基本信息。

This award to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research is to study the following: 1) to determine the molecular mechanisms that control the mechanical properties of fibrin fibers using natural and genetically engineered fibrinogens where the length and the amino acid sequence of the repetitive unit are varied; and 2) to explore electrospinning in generating fibrin fibers for use in the production of multifunctional biomaterials with novel mechanical properties. Recent studies have revealed that fibrin fibers, a major protein component of blood clots, have remarkable extensibility and elasticity. These fibers form when the soluble plasma protein fibrinogen is converted to fibrin monomers by the protease thrombin. Fibrin monomers spontaneously assemble into fibers that can be crosslinked by the transglutaminase FXIIIa. To study the mechanical properties fibrin single fibers, a dual fluorescence/atomic force microscope that will be used to visual examination and mechanical manipulation of single fibers. Electrospinning of fibrin monomers will be carried out to study the generation of strong and elastic fibers. Subsequently, mechanical properties of electrospun fibrin fibers will be modified by a number of approaches such as changing the reaction conditions, adding enzyme catalysts such as transglutaminase, and incorporating composite materials. Students - doctoral, graduate and undergraduate - working on this award will acquire knowledge and skills that are relevant to material science, bioengineering, nanoscience, protein chemistry, and polymer physics. Earlier studies have revealed that fibrin fibers formed from fibrinogen, a soluble blood protein constituent, are remarkably strong and stretchy. This discovery suggested that fibrin fibers may be useful as biodegradable and biocompatible materials. The first part of the proposed study will examine the basic mechanisms that give these fibers their remarkable strength and elasticity. The second part will determine whether these fibers could be made by electrospinning, and how to use this technology to make other fibers that are useful for the production of strong and flexible fibrin based materials. Students working on this award will be exposed to an unusual educational environment where physical sciences and biological sciences are both essential. It is also anticipated that these studies will provide the basic information needed to utilize fibrin fibers in a variety of important biomaterial and biomedical applications.