AUTHOR=Shuturminska Kseniya , Tarakina Nadezda V. , Azevedo Helena S. , Bushby Andrew J. , Mata Alvaro , Anderson Paul , Al-Jawad Maisoon 

TITLE=Elastin-Like Protein, with Statherin Derived Peptide, Controls Fluorapatite Formation and Morphology

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.00368

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2017.00368

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>The process of enamel biomineralization is multi-step, complex and mediated by organic molecules. The lack of cells in mature enamel leaves it unable to regenerate and hence novel ways of growing enamel-like structures are currently being investigated. Recently, elastin-like protein (ELP) with the analog <italic>N</italic>-terminal sequence of statherin (STNA15-ELP) has been used to regenerate mineralized tissue. Here, the STNA15-ELP has been mineralized in constrained and unconstrained conditions in a fluoridated solution. We demonstrate that the control of STNA15-ELP delivery to the mineralizing solution can form layered ordered fluorapatite mineral, via a brushite precursor. We propose that the use of a constrained STNA15-ELP system can lead to the development of novel, bioinspired enamel therapeutics.</p>