Mechanical and In-Vitro Cell Compatibility Properties of Silk-Elastinlike Protein-Based Biomaterial

A series of genetically engineered recombinant silk-elastinlike proteins (SELPs) have been produced by combining polypeptide sequences derived from native silk of superior mechanical strength and elastin that is extremely durable and resilient. They have displayed a set of outstanding properties such as good biocompatibility and controllable biodegradation rates. In the study, we characterized the mechanical property of genetically engineered, recombinant silk-elastinlike protein copolymer, SELP-47K, under physical and chemical treatments. The biocompatibility of the SELP-47K was also evaluated by cell culture. The ultimate goal of this study is to explore the potential of SELPs for applications in the engineering of load-bearing tissues such as arteries.