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Abstract
Proteins such as collagen and elastin are robust molecules that constitute nanocomponents in the hierarchically organized ultrastructures of bone and tendon as well as in some of the soft tissues that have load-bearing functions. In the present paper, the macromolecular structure and function of the proteins are reviewed and the potential of mammalian and non-mammalian proteins in the engineering of load-bearing tissue substitutes are discussed. Chimeric proteins have become an important structural biomaterial source and their potential in tissue engineering is highlighted. Processing of proteins challenge investigators and in this review rapid prototyping and microfabrication are proposed as methods for obtaining precisely defined custom-built tissue engineered structures with intrinsic microarchitecture.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors acknowledge the support by METU through project BAP-07.02.2013.101. ET Baran gratefully acknowledges the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for the Post Doctoral 2232 BIDEP-TUBITAK Fellowship. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.