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Characterization of Elastin-Like Polypeptides Using Viscometry

Alanazi, Hamdan Noman
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1311026986

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Fenn College of Engineering.
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are a class of polypeptide polymers that are gaining interest in various potential applications. These polymers are responsive to the changes in their environment by exhibiting conformational changes and aggregation. Monodisperse elastin-like polypeptides, (GVGVP)40, (GVGVP)40-foldon, and (GVGVP)60-foldon are made in bacterial expression system. An Ubbelohde capillary viscometer was set up to characterize the structural changes of these ELPs in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. For the ELP-foldon, the relative viscosity measurements were utilized to calculate the intrinsic viscosities using Kraemer and Huggins equations. The known molecular weights of the ELPs and the experimentally determined intrinsic viscosities facilitated the calculation of the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada constants. The value of the exponential a in the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation was 0.69 at 20°C and it decreased as the temperature increased until it reached 0.51 at 26°C. The observed changes in a indicate that the conformation of the polymer coils changes from expanded and hydrated coils to theta coils. Viscosity measurements were limited in this project by concentration, since low concentrations produced small specific viscosities with large errors. A second limitation on the viscosity measurements was the aggregation of the polymers. The polymers aggregated at their phase transition temperature, Tt, and they phase separated.
Nolan Holland, PhD (Advisor)
Orhan Talu, PhD (Committee Member)
Dhananjai Shah, PhD (Committee Member)
65 p.
Chemical Engineering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Alanazi, H. N. (2011). Characterization of Elastin-Like Polypeptides Using Viscometry [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1311026986

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Alanazi, Hamdan. Characterization of Elastin-Like Polypeptides Using Viscometry. 2011. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1311026986.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Alanazi, Hamdan. "Characterization of Elastin-Like Polypeptides Using Viscometry." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1311026986

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu1311026986
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.