ABSTRACT
Materials that are ideal for in vitro cell studies and in vivo transplantation studies, en route to clinical translation, aim to mimic the complex milieu of biochemical and biomechanical signals found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) while remaining biocompatible and biodegradable. Protein engineering of biomaterials relies on the designer to dictate precise protein polymer sequences using amino acid building blocks, which in turn dictate the material’s structure and functionality. Coupled with recombinant technology, which permits direct genetic fusion of multiple peptide functionalities into a single protein, protein engineering aims to produce modular biomaterials that meet the goals of biocompatibility and biodegradability while enabling predictable cell−material interactions that dictate cell responses.
