Highly Elastic and Conductive Human-Based Protein Hybrid Hydrogels.

Annabi, Nasim; Shin, Su Ryon; Tamayol, Ali; Miscuglio, Mario; Bakooshli, Mohsen Afshar; Assmann, Alexander; Mostafalu, Pooria; Sun, Jeong-Yun et al. · Adv Mater · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A highly elastic hybrid hydrogel of methacryloyl-substituted recombinant human tropoelastin (MeTro) and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles are developed. The synergistic effect of these two materials significantly enhances both ultimate strain (250%), reversible rotation (9700°), and the fracture energy (38.8 ± 0.8 J m(-2) ) in the hybrid network. Furthermore, improved electrical signal propagation and subsequent contraction of the muscles connected by hybrid hydrogels are observed in ex vivo tests.

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