Silk-Elastin-Like-Protein/Graphene-Oxide Composites for Dynamic Electronic Biomaterials

Genetically engineered silk-elastin-like-proteins (SELPs) synthesized with the combination of silk and elastin domains are bioengineered to also contain a graphene oxide (GO) binding domain. The conductivity and mechanical stability of graphene, combined with SELP-specific graphene interfaces are pursued as dynamic hybrid materials, toward biomaterial-based electronic switches. The resulting bioengineered proteins with added GO demonstrate cytocompatibility and conductivity that could be modulated by changing hydrogel size in response to temperature due to the SELP chemistry. Upon increased temperature, the gels coalesce and contract, providing sufficient condensed spacing to facilitate conductivity via the graphene domains, a feature that is lost at lower temperatures with the more expanded hydrogels. This thermally induced contraction-expansion is reversible and cyclable, providing an "on-off" conductive switch driven by temperature-driven hydrogel shape-change.