Speaker
Description
Elastin like polypeptides (ELPs) are remarkable biomaterials. They behave like living systems, constantly reorganizing themselves in response to their environment. Among the many cues that shape their behavior, pH is one of the most powerful, yet one of the least understood at the nanoscale. In this talk, I explore how subtle shifts in acidity rewrite the structural and mechanical “grammar” of ELPs, transforming their surface architecture. To uncover these transitions, we turn to Intermodulation AFM, a multifrequency technique that lets us “listen” to the protein’s mechanical response with extraordinary sensitivity. Instead of a single indentation curve, we reconstruct thousands of force interactions across the surface, revealing distinct mechanical phases that emerge, merge, or disappear as pH changes. These maps show that ELPs are not uniform materials, they are dynamic landscapes where bead and string domains, crosslinking density, and chain ionization all leave measurable mechanical fingerprints.
What emerges is a coherent story: at low pH, ELPs form larger, more cohesive domains; at neutral pH, they transition into mixed morphologies; and at high pH, they become more diffuse and compliant. These nanoscale signatures align with known self assembly pathways and are supported by complementary SEM evidence from the literature. Ultimately, this work demonstrates that pH is not just a chemical parameter, it is a design tool. By understanding how ELPs reorganize at the nanoscale, we can begin to engineer biomaterials whose mechanical properties are not fixed, but tunable, responsive, and programmable. This opens the door to next generation scaffolds, smart hydrogels, and adaptive interfaces inspired by the elasticity of life itself.
| Keyword-1 | Atomic Force Microscopy |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | Elastin-like-polypeptides |
| Keyword-3 | Nano-mechanical properties |