Figure 6: Physical and mechanical properties of (FL)8 hydrogels.
From: Forced protein unfolding leads to highly elastic and tough protein hydrogels
Physical (a) and mechanical (b) properties of (FL)8 hydrogels reversibly tuned by GuHCL. In PBS, the hydrogel is opaque and shows a negative swelling ratio. Upon soaking in 3 M GuHCl, the hydrogel changes to transparent and swells significantly (with a swelling ratio 1780±200%). In addition, the hydrogel becomes highly compliant with a Young’s modulus of 1.7 kPa at 15% strain, and does not show appreciable hysteresis between stretching–relaxation curves. Upon removing GuHCl, the hydrogel reverts back to its original physical appearance, recovers its mechanical properties and becomes tough and highly stretchable. It is of note that the renatured hydrogels show increased Young’s modulus as compared with the original native hydrogels.
