Bioinspired stretchable molecular composites of 2D-layered materials and tandem repeat proteins.

Protein based composites, such as nacre and bone, show astounding evolutionary capabilities, including tunable physical properties. Inspired by natural composites, we studied assembly of atomistically thin inorganic sheets with genetically engineered polymeric proteins to achieve mechanically compliant and ultra-tough materials. Although bare inorganic nanosheets are brittle, we designed flexible composites with proteins, which are insensitive to flaws due to critical structural length scale (∼2 nm). These proteins, inspired by squid ring teeth, adhere to inorganic sheets via secondary structures (i.e., ß-sheets and α-helices), which is essential for producing high stretchability (59 ± 1% fracture strain) and toughness (54.8 ± 2 MJ/m3). We find that the mechanical properties can be optimized by adjusting the protein molecular weight and tandem repetition. These exceptional mechanical responses greatly exceed the current state-of-the-art stretchability for layered composites by over a factor of three, demonstrating the promise of engineering materials with reconfigurable physical properties.

Design, synthesis and antibacterial potential of 5-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-3-tert-butyl-1-substituted-4,5-dihydropyrazoles.

A series of 5-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-3-tert-butyl-1-substituted-4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives 4a-e and 6a-g have been synthesized and spectrally characterized. The antibacterial activity of the novel candidates has been screened using the agar diffusion test. These compounds were endowed with high antibacterial activity against different Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria when compared with standard antibacterial drugs. In the light of zone of inhibition and MIC results, Sarcina and Staphylococcus aureus are the most sensitive bacteria where pyrrolidinomethanone derivative 4e showed MICs at 80 and 110 nM, respectively. While hydroxypiperidinoethanone derivative 6c showed MIC at 90 nM for Sarcina.

Cephalopod inspired self-healing protein foams for oil-water separation.

Cephalopods are remarkable creatures, captivating scientists with their advanced neurophysiology, complex behavior, and miraculously effective camouflage. Research into cephalopods has led to many discoveries in neuroscience, cell biology, and materials science. Specifically, squids provide us with remarkable self-healing Squid Ring Teeth protein, which is applied herein to extend the life span of foams. Despite the advantages of porosity in surface science applications, porosity impairs mechanical properties by making materials more prone to structural damage -which traditional polymeric foams also suffer from. Drawing inspiration from Squid Ring Teeth, we developed self-healing tandem repeat proteins to overcome these challenges. By leveraging porosity and self-healing properties inspired by Squid Ring Teeth, we created bioengineered protein foams with high separation capacity (5.1 g g-1) and efficiency (≈94%). The foams healed entirely within minutes which regained over 100% strength after repair. These advances promise applications for efficient continuous water treatment through durable filter cartridges.