A Novel Approach to nanoscale materials assembly using bioengineered spider silk fusion proteins: a generic materials approach

在目前的研究方案中，我们将使用一种新的仿生方法来合成使用丝素融合(嵌合)蛋白的纳米复合材料。该项目的实验设计包括设计、克隆、表达、分析和表征各种物理形式的融合蛋白质(David Kaplan，美国塔夫茨大学)，并将这些蛋白质用于材料合成(Carole Perry，英国诺丁汉特伦特大学)，并在一些材料出现时对其机械和其他性质进行评估(Rajesh奈克，美国空军研究实验室)。我们的目标是(1)评估蚕丝蛋白嵌合设计，以优化材料的“组装空间”(结构、形态)，(2)在环境友好的反应条件(水处理)下，以各种不同的材料形式(从溶液，以及作为纤维和薄膜)制备具有各种金属/氧化物功能的丝素纳米复合材料，(3)研究制备多功能丝基纳米复合材料的可能性，以及(4)将机械性能与设计化学相关联。这项研究的假设是，通过适当设计嵌合(融合)蛋白质，可以优化(结构、形态等)和控制(在一系列长度范围内)纳米复合材料的特征，其中自组装结构域和功能(矿物或金属形成)域在分子水平上连接。我们的目标是阐明这两个区域的化学变化如何导致复合材料性能的可预测变化，包括拉伸强度。拟议的研究结果将是一种全新的纳米复合材料家族，包括丝蛋白的自组装和显著的机械性能，但由于新的生物工程蛋白中编码的嵌合矿化结构域而增加了功能。我们预计，通过拟议的三年计划，将采用一种全新的聚合物设计方法来产生新型复合材料。这些材料的潜在应用范围很广，包括军事、空间、高性能赛车、精英运动服、功能过滤器以及用于伤口敷料和医疗应用的材料。

In the present research proposal we will use a novel biomimetic approach to the synthesis of nanocomposites using silk fusion (chimeric) proteins. The experimental design for the project involves the design, cloning, expression, analysis and characterisation of the fusion proteins in a range of physical forms (David Kaplan, Tufts University, USA) and the use of these proteins in materials synthesis (Carole Perry, Nottingham Trent University, UK) with some of the materials being assessed for their mechanical and other properties as they arise(Rajesh Naik, Airforce research Laboratories, USA) . Our aims are (1) to evaluate silk protein chimeric designs to optimize materials 'assembly space' (structure, morphology), (2) to prepare silk nanocomposites with a range of metal/oxide functionality in a variety of different material forms (from solution, and as fibres and films) under environmentally benign reaction conditions (aqueous processing), (3) to investigate the possibility of making multifunctional silk-based nanocomposites, and (4) correlate mechanical properties with design chemistry. The hypothesis for the proposed study is that nanocomposite material features can be optimized (structure, morphology, etc) and controlled (on a range of length scales) through appropriate design of chimeric (fusion) proteins in which the self-assembling structural domains and the functional (mineral or metal forming) domains are linked at the molecular level. Our goal is to elucidate how alterations in the chemistry of the two domains will lead to predictable changes in composite materials properties including tensile strength. The outcome of the proposed studies will be an entirely new family of novel nanocomposite materials, embracing the self-assmbly and remarkable mechanical properties of silk proteins but with added functions due to the chimeric mineralizing domains encoded in the new bioengineered proteins. We anticipate an entirely new approach to polymer design to generate novel composite materials through the proposed three year programme. The range of potenital applications for these materials is vast and includes military, space, performance car racing, elite sports wear, functional filters and materials for wound dressing and medical applications.