Ebook: Protein-Based Materials

Nature learned long ago how useful proteins are as a diverse set of building blocks to make materials with very diverse properties. Spider webs, egg whites, hair follicles, and skeletal muscles are all largely protein. This book provides a glimpse into both nature's strategies for the design and produc­ tion of protein-based materials, and how scientists have been able to go beyond the constraints of natural materials to produce synthetic analogs with potentially wider ranges of properties. The work presented is very much the beginning of the story. Only recently has there been much progress in obtaining a molecular understanding of some of nature's com­ plex materials, and the mimicry or replacement of these by synthetic or genetically engineered variants is a field still in its infancy. Yet this book will serve as a useful introduction for those wishing to get started in what is sure to be an active and productive field throughout the 21st century. The authors represent a wide range of interests and expertise, and the topics chosen are comprehensive. Charles R. Cantor Center for Advanced Biotechnology Boston University Series Preface The properties of materials depend on the nature of the macromolecules, small molecules and inorganic components and the interfaces and interac­ tions between them. Polymer chemistry and physics, and inorganic phase structure and density are major factors that influence the performance of materials.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Chemical Synthesis of Peptides and Polypeptides....Pages 3-35
Biosynthesis of Protein Polymers....Pages 37-60
Artificial Proteins: De novo Design, Synthesis and Solid State Properties....Pages 61-99
Front Matter....Pages 101-101
Silk....Pages 103-131
Protein-Based Materials with a Profound Range of Properties and Applications: The Elastin ?Tt Hydrophobic Paradigm....Pages 133-177
Protein Composite Materials....Pages 179-216
Marine Adhesives: From Molecular Dissection to Application....Pages 217-248
Front Matter....Pages 249-249
Self-Assembling Protein Systems: A Model for Materials Science....Pages 251-279
Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Proteins and Polypeptides....Pages 281-311
The Spinning of Silk-like Proteins Into Fibers....Pages 313-337
Processing and Characterization of Protein Polymers....Pages 339-370
Characterization of Silk-like Proteins and Processing for Biomedical Applications....Pages 371-423
Back Matter....Pages 425-429

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Chemical Synthesis of Peptides and Polypeptides....Pages 3-35
Biosynthesis of Protein Polymers....Pages 37-60
Artificial Proteins: De novo Design, Synthesis and Solid State Properties....Pages 61-99
Front Matter....Pages 101-101
Silk....Pages 103-131
Protein-Based Materials with a Profound Range of Properties and Applications: The Elastin ?Tt Hydrophobic Paradigm....Pages 133-177
Protein Composite Materials....Pages 179-216
Marine Adhesives: From Molecular Dissection to Application....Pages 217-248
Front Matter....Pages 249-249
Self-Assembling Protein Systems: A Model for Materials Science....Pages 251-279
Liquid Crystalline Phase Behavior of Proteins and Polypeptides....Pages 281-311
The Spinning of Silk-like Proteins Into Fibers....Pages 313-337
Processing and Characterization of Protein Polymers....Pages 339-370
Characterization of Silk-like Proteins and Processing for Biomedical Applications....Pages 371-423
Back Matter....Pages 425-429
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