Publications by authors named "Kai-Kai Tian"
Synthetic biology-guided design and biosynthesis of protein polymers for delivery.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- Genetically engineered protein polymers are gaining popularity in biomedical engineering for their customizable design, strong compatibility with biological systems, and ability to break down naturally.
- The article discusses the current strategies for creating repetitive genes that code for these protein polymers, focusing on synthetic biology techniques.
- It also highlights advanced methods for engineering host organisms to produce these polymers efficiently, and presents examples of how these proteins are used to create delivery vehicles in medical applications.
Article Synopsis
- The native extracellular matrix's stiffness and fibrous structure are crucial for influencing cell behavior, but replicating these in lab-made hydrogels is challenging.
- This study introduces two types of fibrous and porous hydrogels made from engineered protein polymers that have adjustable stiffness and explores their effects on bone marrow stem cells.
- Results show that increasing stiffness enhances stem cell growth and differentiation, with fibrous hydrogels being more effective; the study also identifies a key role for stiffness and fibrous structure in activating the YAP protein, which is important for endothelial differentiation.
Article Synopsis
- Rubberlike protein hydrogels are stretchy and resilient but often lack strength due to disorganized protein chains, limiting their use.
- The text proposes a novel strategy using engineered protein copolymers that combine photo-cross-linkable resilin-like blocks with fibrillizable silklike blocks to enhance the strength of these hydrogels.
- This method allows for controlled fibrillization and reinforcement at both the supramolecular and material levels, resulting in stronger hydrogels suitable for applications like piezoresistive sensors that can detect a wider range of pressure.