hybridization with defined proteins or peptides offers additional and very specific
tools for the design of properties. In our example, the microgels exhibited a dual
stimulus-response such that the thermal transition was shifted to higher temperatures below and above the isoelectric point of the peptide.
Because soluble elastin peptides are highly biocompatible, do not trigger a
thrombogenic response, and show low immunogenicity elastin is suitable as
a component of stealth-type microgel particles [26]. To begin with this aspect, we
have concentrated on microgel use as a potential drug carrier by demonstrating
the cytocompatibility and the biodegradability of the microgel. Furthermore, we
have performed a model study on the release properties with dextran as a watersoluble biomacromolecule. The results demonstrate the ability of the concept to
significantly retard release. However, elastin peptides are also known to influence
signaling and proliferation by binding to several cell receptors, the most well
investigated being the elastin binding protein (EBP) [27, 28]. Within this aspect,
elastin is an example of a bioactive compound with an activity that can be expected
to be manipulated by the collapse of the microgel particles. Recombinant or
synthetic ELPs will offer new possibilities to tailor the responsive properties and
to introduce switchable receptor affinities, also with other specific peptide segments
as ligands [13].
Acknowledgements F.T. thanks Marie Curie ITN project Hierarchy (contract: PITN-2007215851) for the Ph.D. fellowship. The authors thank Mr. Arpit Bajpai for cell tests and
Ms. Helin Li for support during microgel preparation.
References
1. Goncalves C, Pereira P, Gama M (2010) Materials 3:1420–1460
2. Singh S, Mo ¨ller M, Pich A (2013) J Polym Sci Polym Chem 51:3044
3. Das M, Zhang H, Kumacheva E (2006) Ann Rev Mater Res 36:117
4. Balanceanu A, Demco DE, Mo ¨ller M, Pich A (2011) Macromolecules 44:2161
5. Storm G, Belliot S, Daemen T, Lasic DD (1995) Adv Drug Deliv Rev 17:31
6. Matsumura Y, Maeda HA (1986) Cancer Res 46:6387
7. Partridge SM, Davis HF, Adair GS (1948) Biochem J 43:387
8. Urry DW, Starcher B, Partridge SM (1969) Nature 222:795
9. Volpin D, Urry DW, Cox BA, Gotte L (1976) Biochim Biophys Acta 439:253
10. Amiram M, Luginbuhl KM, Feinglos MN, Chilkoti A (2013) J Contr Release 172:144–151
doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.07.021
11. Hassouneh W, Fischer K, MacEwan S, Branscheid R, Fu CL, Liu R, Schmidt M, Chilokoti A
(2012) Biomacromolecules 13:1598
12. Patel D, Vandromme SE, Reid ME, Taite LJ (2012) Biomacromolecules 13:1420
13. Rodriguez-Cabello JC (2004) Smart elastin-like polymers. In: Hasirci N, Hasirci V (eds)
Biomaterials: from molecules to engineered tissues. Advances in experimental medicine, vol
553. Kluwer Academic/Plenum, New York, p 45
14. Kumashiro KK, Ho JP, Niemczura WP, Keeley FW (2006) J Biol Chem 281:23757
Stimuli-Sensitive Microgels from Native Elastin: An Easy Approach for a Drug. . .
429
tools for the design of properties. In our example, the microgels exhibited a dual
stimulus-response such that the thermal transition was shifted to higher temperatures below and above the isoelectric point of the peptide.
Because soluble elastin peptides are highly biocompatible, do not trigger a
thrombogenic response, and show low immunogenicity elastin is suitable as
a component of stealth-type microgel particles [26]. To begin with this aspect, we
have concentrated on microgel use as a potential drug carrier by demonstrating
the cytocompatibility and the biodegradability of the microgel. Furthermore, we
have performed a model study on the release properties with dextran as a watersoluble biomacromolecule. The results demonstrate the ability of the concept to
significantly retard release. However, elastin peptides are also known to influence
signaling and proliferation by binding to several cell receptors, the most well
investigated being the elastin binding protein (EBP) [27, 28]. Within this aspect,
elastin is an example of a bioactive compound with an activity that can be expected
to be manipulated by the collapse of the microgel particles. Recombinant or
synthetic ELPs will offer new possibilities to tailor the responsive properties and
to introduce switchable receptor affinities, also with other specific peptide segments
as ligands [13].
Acknowledgements F.T. thanks Marie Curie ITN project Hierarchy (contract: PITN-2007215851) for the Ph.D. fellowship. The authors thank Mr. Arpit Bajpai for cell tests and
Ms. Helin Li for support during microgel preparation.
References
1. Goncalves C, Pereira P, Gama M (2010) Materials 3:1420–1460
2. Singh S, Mo ¨ller M, Pich A (2013) J Polym Sci Polym Chem 51:3044
3. Das M, Zhang H, Kumacheva E (2006) Ann Rev Mater Res 36:117
4. Balanceanu A, Demco DE, Mo ¨ller M, Pich A (2011) Macromolecules 44:2161
5. Storm G, Belliot S, Daemen T, Lasic DD (1995) Adv Drug Deliv Rev 17:31
6. Matsumura Y, Maeda HA (1986) Cancer Res 46:6387
7. Partridge SM, Davis HF, Adair GS (1948) Biochem J 43:387
8. Urry DW, Starcher B, Partridge SM (1969) Nature 222:795
9. Volpin D, Urry DW, Cox BA, Gotte L (1976) Biochim Biophys Acta 439:253
10. Amiram M, Luginbuhl KM, Feinglos MN, Chilkoti A (2013) J Contr Release 172:144–151
doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.07.021
11. Hassouneh W, Fischer K, MacEwan S, Branscheid R, Fu CL, Liu R, Schmidt M, Chilokoti A
(2012) Biomacromolecules 13:1598
12. Patel D, Vandromme SE, Reid ME, Taite LJ (2012) Biomacromolecules 13:1420
13. Rodriguez-Cabello JC (2004) Smart elastin-like polymers. In: Hasirci N, Hasirci V (eds)
Biomaterials: from molecules to engineered tissues. Advances in experimental medicine, vol
553. Kluwer Academic/Plenum, New York, p 45
14. Kumashiro KK, Ho JP, Niemczura WP, Keeley FW (2006) J Biol Chem 281:23757
Stimuli-Sensitive Microgels from Native Elastin: An Easy Approach for a Drug. . .
429