Resilin-mimetics as a smart biomaterial platform for biomedical applications

Intrinsically disordered proteins have dramatically changed the structure-function paradigm of proteins in the 21(st) century. Resilin is a native elastic insect protein, which features intrinsically disordered structure, unusual multi-stimuli responsiveness and outstanding resilience. Advances in computational techniques, polypeptide synthesis methods and modular protein engineering routines have led to the development of novel resilin-like polypeptides (RLPs) including modular RLPs, expanding their applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensors, catalysis and bioelectronics. However, how the responsive behaviour of RLPs is encoded in the amino acid sequence level remains elusive. This review summarises the milestones of RLPs, and discusses the development of modular RLP-based biomaterials, their current applications, challenges and future perspectives. A perspective of future research is that sequence and responsiveness profiling of RLPs can provide a new platform for the design and development of new modular RLP-based biomaterials with programmable structure, properties and functions. Advances made in synthesis and analytical techniques has allowed the exploration and mimicry of natural materials. Resilin-mimetics have emerged from this advance as a biomaterial with a range of potential applications. Here, the authors review the history and current research on resilin-mimetics, providing a future perspective.

Automated summary

Intrinsically disordered proteins, such as the native elastic insect protein Resilin, have brought about a significant shift in the structure-function paradigm of proteins. Advances in computational techniques, polypeptide synthesis methods, and modular protein engineering have led to the development of novel resilin-like polypeptides with applications in various fields. The encoding of responsive behavior in amino acid sequence level remains a mystery, but the potential for future research lies in the design and development of new modular RLP-based biomaterials with programmable structure, properties, and functions. Resilin-mimetics have emerged as a biomaterial with versatile potential applications, and further exploration and mimicry of natural materials are ongoing.