Table 1 Estimated polymerization degree of Val/Gly NCA in the initial networks.

From: Spider-silk inspired polymeric networks by harnessing the mechanical potential of β-sheets through network guided assembly

Experimental Code

Percentage of glycine (mol %)

Val NCA Conc. (mg/mL, mmol/mL)

Gly NCA Conc. (mg/mL, mmol/mL)

Type of initial network

Val Conv.a (%)

Gly Conv.a (%)

Average DP (Val)b

Average DP (Gly)b

HB30

0

30, 0.21

N/A

Hydrogel

90.4 ± 4.8

N/A

7.3 ± 0.03

N/A

CB30

0

30, 0.21

N/A

Cryogel

88.8 ± 4.5

N/A

7.2 ± 0.03

N/A

HB60

0

60, 0.42

N/A

Hydrogel

86.4 ± 2.3

N/A

13.9 ± 0.03

N/A

CB60

0

60, 0.42

N/A

Cryogel

83.2 ± 4.8

N/A

13.4 ± 0.06

N/A

HB120

0

120, 0.83

N/A

Hydrogel

85.6 ± 5.5

N/A

27.6 ± 0.14

N/A

CB120

0

120, 0.83

N/A

Cryogel

77.8 ± 8.7

N/A

25.1 ± 0.22

N/A

HB240

0

240, 1.67

N/A

Hydrogel

80.5 ± 2.5

N/A

51.9 ± 0.12

N/A

CB240

0

240, 1.67

N/A

Cryogel

77.8 ± 7.2

N/A

50.2 ± 0.36

N/A

HB360

0

360, 2.51

N/A

Hydrogel

75.2 ± 2.0

N/A

72.7 ± 0.15

N/A

CB360

0

360, 2.51

N/A

Cryogel

76.8 ± 0.4

N/A

74.3 ± 0.03

N/A

GH5

5

342, 2.39

12.7, 0.12

Hydrogel

83.6 ± 10.7

94.8 ± 3.8

76.8 ± 0.77

4.6 ± 0.01

GH10

10

324, 2.26

25.4, 0.25

Hydrogel

82.6 ± 13.9

97.9 ± 0.8

71.9 ± 0.94

9.5 ± 0.01

  1. aThe NCA monomer conversion rate was determined by 1H NMR using a calibration curve, according to the integral ratio between remaining NCA monomer and solvent characteristic peaks stipulated in Methods. ±errors based on standard deviation (n = 3).
  2. bAverage DP is the average number of grafted Val repeat units per –NH2 group along the network backbone, estimated by the molar ratio between converted Val NCA and –NH2 groups in the initial networks (assuming the initiating efficiency and polymerization rate are the same throughout the networks).
Back to article page