A Genetic Toolbox for Creating Reversible Ca²⁺-Sensitive Materials

A major goal of polymer science is to develop “smart” materials that sense specific chemical signals in complex environments and respond with predictable changes in their mechanical properties. Here, we describe a genetic toolbox of natural and engineered protein modules that can be rationally combined in manifold ways to create reversible self-assembling materials that vary in their composition, architecture, and mechanical properties. Using this toolbox, we produced several materials that reversibly self-assemble in the presence of Ca2+ and characterized these materials using particle-tracking microrheology. The properties of these materials could be predicted from the dilute solution behavior of their component modules, suggesting that this toolbox may be generally useful for creating new stimuli-sensitive materials.高分子科学的核心目标之一，是开发能够在复杂环境中感知特定化学信号，并通过力学性能的可预测变化做出响应的"智能"材料。本研究报道了一套由天然与工程化蛋白质模块构成的遗传工具箱，该工具箱可通过多种方式进行理性设计组合，用以制备组成、结构架构与力学性能各异的可逆自组装材料。依托该工具箱，我们制备出多种可在Ca²+存在条件下发生可逆自组装的材料，并通过粒子跟踪微流变学对这些材料进行了表征。这些材料的性能可通过其组成模块的稀溶液行为进行预测，这表明该工具箱有望在制备新型刺激响应型材料领域得到广泛应用。