Self-Assembling Protein Hydrogel with Bio-active Protein

• Design is modular and should be applicable to most proteins • Functional units of interest can be attached and tested quickly • Production of hydrogel uses existing protein production methods

• Wound dressing that incorporate proteins for activities like growth stimulation, anti-microbial, anti-scar forming, etc. • Drug delivery using hydrogels could serve as a responsive reservoir, releasing drugs in response to some physiologically relevant criteria • Implants that are engineered for novel functionality • Bioelectrocatalytic applications such as biofuel cells, which utilize enzymes in the hydrogel, that can process biofuels and transfer electrons to the electrode • Bioelectrocatalytic applications such as biosensors and microreactors for electrochemical production and modification

This invention is a hydrogel composed of a protein monomer that incorporates a functional bio-active protein. The protein monomers can self assemble to form a hydrogel and since the bio-active sites are linked to the hydrogel forming protein domain, ...

USA