Claims
- 1. A synthetic protein copolymer comprising at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block.
- 2. The protein copolymer of claim 1 having a first hydrophobic end block, a second hydrophobic end block, and a middle hydrophilic block.
- 3. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein said first and second end blocks are substantially identical.
- 4. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein the first end block comprises an amino acid sequence of [VPAVG(IPAVG)4]n or [(IPAVG)4(VPAVG)]n; cross-referenced as SEQ ID NO:11 and SEQ ID NO:12.
- 5. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein the middle block comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: [(VPGEG) (VPGVG)4]m, [(VPGVG)4(VPGEG)]m, and [(VPGVG)2VPGEG(VPGVG)2]m; cross-referenced as SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, and SEQ ID NO:18.
- 6. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein the first end block comprises SEQ ID NO:11 or SEQ ID NO:12 and the middle block comprises SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, or SEQ ID NO:18.
- 7. The protein copolymer of claim 6 wherein n is from about 5 to about 100 and wherein m is from about 10 to about 100.
- 8. The protein copolymer of claim 4 wherein n is about 16.
- 9. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein the middle block is selected from the group consisting of:
- 10. The protein copolymer of claim 9 wherein the first end block comprises an amino acid sequence of [VPAVG(IPAVG)4]n or [(IPAVG)4(VPAVG)]n; cross-referenced as SEQ ID NO:11 and SEQ ID NO:12.
- 11. The protein copolymer of claim 1 capable of elongation up to about 14 times its initial length.
- 12. A film comprising the protein copolymer of claim 2.
- 13. The film of claim 12 comprising a plurality of layers.
- 14. The multi-layered film of claim 13 comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer derives from a first polymer exposed to a first solvent, and the second layer derives from a second polymer exposed to a second solvent, thereby creating a film having a desired mechanical property.
- 15. The multi-layered film of claim 14 wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are substantially identical.
- 16. The multi-layered film of claim 14 wherein the first solvent enhances film elasticity and the second solvent enhances film plasticity.
- 17. The multi-layered film of any of claims 14 wherein the first solvent is water and the second solvent is trifluoroethanol.
- 18. The protein copolymer of claim 1 in gel form.
- 19. The protein copolymer of claim 1 in the form of a fiber or fiber network.
- 20. The fiber network of claim 19 comprising a first fiber and a second fiber, wherein the first fiber derives from a polymer exposed to a first solvent and the second fiber derives from a polymer exposed to a second solvent.
- 21. A method of generating a medical implant comprising the step of including the fiber of claim 19 in the implant.
- 22. A method for producing a plastic elastic protein copolymer comprising the steps of
a. providing a first block of nucleic acid sequence, wherein said first block encodes a hydrophilic protein; b. providing a second block of nucleic acid sequence, wherein said second block encodes a hydrophobic protein; c. synthesizing a nucleic acid molecule comprising said first and second blocks; and d. expressing said nucleic acid molecule to produce said protein copolymer.
- 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising solubilizing said protein copolymer in a solvent, thereby creating a solution, and bringing said solution to a temperature to cause said copolymer to agglomerate to form a non-covalently crosslinked mass.
- 24. The method of claim 22 further comprising covalently crosslinking said polymer.
- 25. A method of manufacture of a stent, embolization coil, vascular graft, or other implanted biomedical device comprising the method of claim 23 and further comprising the steps of
e. including a drug or biological agent in the solvent, thereby making a mixture with said copolymer; and f. applying said mixture to said stent, embolization coil, vascular graft, or other implanted biomedical device.
- 26. A nucleic acid sequence comprising SI (SEQ ID NO:45), S2 (SEQ ID NO:46), S3 (SEQ ID NO:47), or S-adaptor (SEQ ID NO:48).
- 27. The method of claim 22 wherein said first block or said second block of nucleic acid sequence comprise one or more sequences of claim 26.
- 28. A medical device, cell, tissue, or organ further comprising the film of claim 12.
- 29. The film of claim 12 further comprising a synthetic or natural fiber.
- 30. The film of claim 12 further comprising a drug or biologically active compound.
- 31. The fiber or fiber network of claim 19 having a selected shape of a planar sheet or a tubular conduit.
- 32. A medical device, cell, tissue, or organ at least partially covered or reinforced with the fiber or fiber network of claim 19.
- 33. The protein copolymer of claim 2 in the form of a microparticle.
- 34. The microparticle protein copolymer of claim 33 having a spherical shape and a diameter of up to about 0.4 millimeters.
- 35. The protein copolymer of claim 1 in the form of a biocompatible coating on a device.
- 36. The coating of claim 35 wherein said device is a medical implant.
- 37. The protein copolymer of claim 2 wherein said copolymer has a transition temperature in a solvent that is an inverse transition temperature.
- 38. The protein copolymer of claim 37 having a transition temperature of from about 4° C. to about 40° C.
- 39. The protein copolymer of claim 37 having a transition temperature of from about 16° C. to about 25° C.
- 40. The protein copolymer of claim 37 having a transition temperature of from about 32° C. to about 37° C.
- 41. A medical implant comprising the protein copolymer of claim 1.
- 42. A drug delivery material comprising the protein copolymer of claim 1.
- 43. A wound dressing comprising the protein copolymer of claim 1.
- 44. A cell, tissue, or organ partially or completely encapsulated by the protein copolymer of claim 1.
- 45. The cell of claim 44 wherein the cell is a pancreatic islet cell.
- 46. The protein copolymer of claim 1 which is non-covalently crosslinked.
- 47. The protein copolymer of claim 1 which is covalently crosslinked.
- 48. A complex comprising a first and a second protein copolymer of claim 1 wherein the first and second copolymers are non-covalently crosslinked.
- 49. The complex of claim 48 wherein the first and second protein copolymers are substantially identical.
- 50. A complex comprising a first and a second protein copolymer of claim 1 wherein the first and second copolymers are covalently crosslinked.
- 51. The complex of claim 50 wherein the first and second protein copolymers are substantially identical.
- 52. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising a chemical substituent.
- 53. The protein copolymer of claim 52 wherein the substituent is an amino acid capable of facilitating crosslinking or derivatization.
- 54. The protein copolymer of claim 53 wherein the amino acid is lysine or glutamine.
- 55. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising a functional site capable of facilitating chemical derivitization for a covalent crosslinking reaction.
- 56. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising a photocrosslinkable acrylate group capable of forming stable crosslinks upon an interaction with an appropriate initiator and light.
- 57. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising a functional site capable of serving as a binding site.
- 58. The protein copolymer of claim 57 wherein the binding site is an enzyme binding site.
- 59. The protein copolymer of claim 57 wherein the functional site comprises a selected protease site capable of allowing degradation of said protein copolymer.
- 60. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising a metal or other inorganic ion nucleation site.
- 61. The protein copolymer of claim 1 comprising an adhesion molecule recognition site or enzyme active site.
- 62. The protein copolymer of claim 1 further comprising an agent wherein the agent is a drug or biologically active molecule or biomacromolecule.
- 63. The protein copolymer and agent of claim 62 wherein said agent is covalently bound or non-covalently bound to said copolymer.
- 64. The protein copolymer of claim 1 further comprising a selected molecule wherein the selected molecule is a saccharide, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide, glycopolymer, ionic synthetic polymer, non-ionic synthetic polymer, or other organic molecule.
- 65. The protein copolymer of claim 64 wherein the selected molecule is covalently bound to said copolymer.
- 66. The protein copolymer of claim 64 wherein the selected molecule is non-covalently bound to said copolymer.
- 67. The protein copolymer of claim 1 further comprising a synthetic or natural compound capable of effecting an alteration of a surface property of said copolymer.
- 68. The method of claim 25 wherein the drug is sirolimus.
- 69. The method of claim 25 wherein the drug is amphiphilic.
- 70. The method of claim 25 wherein the mixture is in the form of a gel, film, or fiber.
- 71. A method of generating a medical implant having a selected mechanical property comprising applying the fiber of claim 19 to the implant.
- 72. The method of claim 71 wherein the implant comprises skin, vein, artery, ureter, bladder, esophagus, intestine, stomach, heart valve, heart muscle, or tendon.
- 73. A method of generating a wound dressing having a selected mechanical property and having a selected shape, comprising forming the fiber of claim 19 into the selected shape.
- 74. A method of generating a medical implant comprising applying the film of claim 12 to the implant.
- 75. The method of claim 74 wherein the implant comprises skin, vein, artery, ureter, bladder, esophagus, intestine, stomach, heart valve, heart muscle, or tendon.
- 76. A method of generating a wound dressing having a selected mechanical property and having a selected shape, comprising forming the film of claim 12 into the selected shape.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2,417,634 |
Jan 2003 |
CA |
|
2003-98691 |
Apr 2003 |
JP |
|
2003236491 |
Aug 2003 |
AU |
|
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/428,438 filed on Nov. 22, 2002. This application also claims all benefits under the Paris Convention, including claims to priority applications as follows: Canada Patent Application 2,417,634 filed Jan. 29, 2003; Japan Patent Application 2003-98691 filed Apr. 1, 2003; and Australia Patent Application 2003236491 filed Aug. 27, 2003. Each priority application is individually incorporated herein by reference.
FEDERAL FUNDING
[0002] This invention was made with government support under grant NSF: EEC-9731643 E-15-AO1-G1 awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in the invention.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60428438 |
Nov 2002 |
US |