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  • Self-regenerating giant hya...
    Wei, Wenbin; Faubel, Jessica L; Selvakumar, Hemaa; Kovari, Daniel T; Tsao, Joanna; Rivas, Felipe; Mohabir, Amar T; Krecker, Michelle; Rahbar, Elaheh; Hall, Adam R; Filler, Michael A; Washburn, Jennifer L; Weigel, Paul H; Curtis, Jennifer E

    Nature communications, 12/2019, Volume: 10, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    Tailoring interfaces with polymer brushes is a commonly used strategy to create functional materials for numerous applications. Existing methods are limited in brush thickness, the ability to generate high-density brushes of biopolymers, and the potential for regeneration. Here we introduce a scheme to synthesize ultra-thick regenerating hyaluronan polymer brushes using hyaluronan synthase. The platform provides a dynamic interface with tunable brush heights that extend up to 20 microns - two orders of magnitude thicker than standard brushes. The brushes are easily sculpted into micropatterned landscapes by photo-deactivation of the enzyme. Further, they provide a continuous source of megadalton hyaluronan or they can be covalently-stabilized to the surface. Stabilized brushes exhibit superb resistance to biofilms, yet are locally digested by fibroblasts. This brush technology provides opportunities in a range of arenas including regenerating tailorable biointerfaces for implants, wound healing or lubrication as well as fundamental studies of the glycocalyx and polymer physics.