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The Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Elastin-Like Polypeptides Containing An Oligomerization Domain, James T. Cole

ETD Archive

Elastin like polypeptides (ELPs) are an emerging class of biomaterials due to their unique group of chemical, physical and biological properties. We have constructed a library of ELPs based on the pentapeptide amino acid repeat sequence (GVGVP). ELPs exhibit lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transition behavior from a soluble phase below the transition temperature (Tt) to an insoluble two phase system above the transition temperature. This process is completely reversible so that ELPs can become soluble again upon lowering the temperature. This temperature can be tuned in many different ways at the molecular level by changing the composition of the …