The transition between crystalline and amorphous materials often requires trading structural order for increased dynamicity and flexibility. To combat this limitation, Polymer-Integrated Crystals (PIX) have been recently introduced as a new form of materials, that combine the structural order of protein crystals with the dynamic, stimuli-responsive properties of synthetic polymers. In proof-of-principle experiments, we have shown that the porous crystals of ferritin could be efficiently infused with polymer precursors and a hydrogel network was formed throughout the lattice via in-crystallo polymerization. The resulting material exhibits a flexible framework with defined pores, making them well-suited for molecular capture and release, actuation, and functional design.

Dynamic, polymer-integrated protein crystals as functional materials

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.