Toward Tunable Protein‐Driven Hydrogel Lens

• Published in: Advanced science 2023-12, Vol.10 (36), p.e2306862-n/a
• Main Authors: Kaeek, Maria, Khoury, Luai R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; biomaterials; Fourier transforms; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Lens, Crystalline - metabolism; Molecular weight; optic‐biomaterials; Polymers; protein nanomechanics; Proteins; protein‐based materials; protein‐driven actuators; Ratios; Reproducibility of Results; Spectrum analysis
• ISSN: 2198-3844; 2198-3844
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306862

Despite the significant progress in protein‐based materials, creating a tunable protein‐activated hydrogel lens remains an elusive goal. This study leverages the synergistic relationship between protein structural dynamics and polymer hydrogel engineering to introduce a highly transparent protein–polymer actuator. By incorporating bovine serum albumin into polyethyleneglycol diacrylate hydrogels, the authors achieved enhanced light transmittance and conferred actuating capabilities to the hydrogel. Taking advantage of these features, a bilayer protein‐driven hydrogel lens that dynamically modifies its focal length in response to pH changes, mimicking the adaptability of the human lens, is fabricated. The lens demonstrates durability and reproducibility, highlighting its potential for repetitive applications. This integration of protein‐diverse biochemistry, folding nanomechanics, and polymer engineering opens up new avenues for harnessing the wide range of proteins to potentially propel various fields such as diagnostics, lab‐on‐chip, and deep‐tissue bio‐optics, advancing the understanding of incorporating biomaterials in the optical field. Despite challenges in developing a tunable protein‐activated hydrogel lens, this study introduces a transparent protein–polymer actuator by integrating bovine serum albumin into polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogels. This integration produces a bilayer lens that can modify its focal length based on pH variations, mirroring the adaptability of the human lens. This lens showcases resilience and holds promise for applications in diagnostics and bio‐optics, signifying progress in optical biomaterials.