Cross-linked elastomeric proteins in polar nonaqueous solvents and uses thereof
AssigneeBolt Threads, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Jordan Smith, Michael Eun-Suk Lee, Mitchell Joseph Heinrich, Paul James Jehlen
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are improved cross-linked resilin compositions and methods of making these improved compositions. These include new methods of cross-linking resilin compositions, use of polar nonaqueous solvents for adjusting material properties of cross-linked resilin solid compositions, and resilin foam compositions and methods of making the same.
Claims23
A method of cross-linking recombinant resilin, comprising:
- providing a composition comprising purified recombinant resilin, wherein the composition comprises full-length recombinant resilin in an amount in a range from 10% and 90% by weight of the purified recombinant resilin;
- placing said recombinant resilin in a cross-linking solution comprising ammonium persulfate and an aqueous solvent, wherein the cross-linking solution does not include a photocatalyst or a cross-linking enzyme;
- incubating said recombinant resilin in said cross-linking solution at a temperature of at least 60° C., thereby generating a cross-linked recombinant resilin solid composition in the aqueous solvent;
- and
- solvent exchanging the aqueous solvent in the cross-linked recombinant resilin solid composition with a polar, non-aqueous solvent to thereby provide a polar, non-aqueous based crosslinked resilin solid.
A solid recombinant resilin composition comprising a solid cross-linked recombinant resilin in a polar nonaqueous solvent selected from glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol, wherein the composition comprises full-length recombinant resilin in an amount in a range from 10% and 90% by weight of the solid cross-linked recombinant resilin.
A method of preparing a recombinant resilin foam, comprising:
- admixing a recombinant resilin with a cross-linking solution comprising ammonium persulfate in an aqueous solvent, wherein the cross-linking solution does not include a photocatalyst or a cross-linking enzyme, wherein the recombinant resilin comprises full-length recombinant resilin in an amount in a range from 10% and 90% by weight of the recombinant resilin;
- incubating said recombinant resilin in said cross-linking solution at a temperature of at least 60° C. in the presence of a foaming agent that introduces bubbles into the resilin while crosslinking, thereby generating a cross-linked recombinant resilin solid foam in the aqueous solvent;
- and
- solvent exchanging the aqueous solvent in the cross-linked recombinant resilin solid foam with a polar, non-aqueous solvent to thereby provide a polar, non-aqueous based crosslinked resilin solid foam.
A solid composition comprising a solid cross-linked resilin composition in a polar nonaqueous solvent selected from glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol, wherein said cross-linked resilin is foamed, wherein the composition comprises full-length recombinant resilin in an amount in a range from 10% and 90% by weight of the solid cross-linked resilin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.