Tufts University

United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

University of Illinois

Anne George

David L Kaplan

Rajesh R Naik

Cheryl Wong Po Foo

Jia Huang

The claimed invention provides a fusion polypeptide comprising a fibrous protein domain and a mineralization domain. The fusion is used to form an organic-inorganic composite. These organic-inorganic composites can be constructed from the nano- to the macro-scale depending on the size of the fibrous protein fusion domain used. In one embodiment, the composites can also be loaded with other compounds (e.g., dyes, drugs, enzymes) depending on the goal for the materials, to further enhance function. This can be achieved during assembly of the material or during the mineralization step in materials formation.

Fibrous protein fusion and use thereof in the formation of advanced organic/inorganic composite materials

Fibrous protein fusions and use thereof in the formation of advanced organic/inorganic composite materials

The claimed invention provides a fusion polypeptide comprising a fibrous protein domain and a mineralization domain. The fusion is used to form an organic-inorganic composite. These organic-inorganic composites can be constructed from the nano- to the macro-scale depending on the size of the fibrous protein domain used. The composites can also be loaded with other compounds (e.g. dyes, drugs, enzymes) depending on the goal for the materials, to further enhance function. This can be achieved during assembly of the materials or during the mineralization step in materials formation.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Anne George