What Are Elastin-Like Polymers?

Biotechnology offers powerful solutions to the challenges that arise during the design and development of new complex biomimetic materials to achieve specific biological responses. Recombinant DNA technologies, in particular, provide unique solutions in the biomaterials field, especially regarding the control of macromolecular architectures involving protein sequences with the aim of addressing the multiple functional requirements needed for biomaterials’ applications. Elastin-like polymers have been presented as an example of an extraordinary convergence of different properties that are not found in any other polymer system. These materials are highly biocompatible, stimuli-responsive, show unusual self-assembly properties and can include bioactive domains along the polypeptide chain.

The tailored introduction of cross-linking groups, bioactive domains, and enzymatic biodegradation makes these materials suitable substrates which can be used to mimic some of the most important characteristics of natural biological structures for tissue engineering.  The conception of nanotechnological systems, stimuli-responsive biosurfaces and scaffolds for tissue engineering have started taking advantage of their properties, rising as a viable alternative to conventional chemically synthesized polymers for biomedical applications.