Sythesis of Novel Protien-Based Elastomers

Of the several protein elastomers - elastin, resilin, abduction, titin and twitchin- the elastomer with the greatest demonstrated durability is elastin. It is perhaps no coincidence that elasting is also most hydrophobic, as durability and hydrophobicity may be coupled. Also, greater hydrophobicity makes elastin-based elastomers of greater potential utilization alone and particularly in combination with traditional synthetic elastomers. Furthermore, elastin-based elastomers can be prepared with a wide range of elastic moduli for a correspondingly wide range of applications. The objective of this basic research Phase I SBIR is chemically to synthesize three subsets of a family of model protein elastomers patterned after the dominant repeating elastic sequence of elastin. The approach in the design of the three subsets is systematically to increase hydrophobicity, yet retain the capacity to form structure by coacervation; to increase hydrophobicity in a manner that enhances cross-linking by y-irradiation; to increase hydrophobicity in a way that introduces pressure effects and shock sbsorbing properties; and to prepare elastomers with the potential for a range of elastic moduli. The protein-based elastomers are to become more similar to, yet distinct from, traditional synthetic elastomers with respect to the properties to be examined. Those physical characterizations are to determine barrier properties, solvent swelling and flexibility at low temperatures.