Fibrin Fibers: Strong, Elastic and Novel Biomaterials

该奖项由材料研究部生物材料计划授予北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校，目的是研究以下内容：1)使用天然和基因工程纤维蛋白原(重复单元的长度和氨基酸序列不同)，确定控制纤维蛋白纤维机械性能的分子机制；以及2)探索静电纺丝产生纤维蛋白纤维，用于生产具有新型机械性能的多功能生物材料。最近的研究表明，纤维蛋白纤维是血栓的主要蛋白质成分，具有显著的延伸性和弹性。当可溶的血浆蛋白纤维蛋白原被蛋白酶凝血酶转化为纤维蛋白单体时，这些纤维就形成了。纤维蛋白单体可以自发地组装成纤维，这些纤维可以通过转谷氨酰胺酶FXIIIa进行交联。为了研究纤维蛋白单纤维的力学性能，将双荧光/原子力显微镜应用于单纤维的肉眼观察和机械操纵。纤维蛋白单体的电纺丝将被用来研究强而有弹性的纤维的产生。随后，电纺纤维的力学性能将通过改变反应条件、添加转谷氨酰胺酶等酶催化剂以及加入复合材料等多种方法进行改性。博士生、研究生和本科生将获得与材料科学、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(一种可溶的血液蛋白质成分)形成的纤维蛋白纤维非常坚固和有弹性。这一发现表明，纤维蛋白纤维可能用作可生物降解和生物兼容的材料。这项拟议研究的第一部分将研究赋予这些纤维非凡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来制造，以及如何利用这一技术来制造其他纤维，这些纤维可用于生产坚固而灵活的纤维蛋白材料。参加这一奖项的学生将接触到一个不同寻常的教育环境，在那里，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.