Rapid Cross-Linking of Elastin-like Polypeptides with (Hydroxymethyl)phosphines in Aqueous Solution

In situ gelation of injectable polypeptide-based materials is attractive for minimally invasive in vivo implantation of biomaterials and tissue engineering scaffolds. We demonstrate that chemically cross-linked elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) hydrogels can be rapidly formed in aqueous solution by reacting lysine-containing ELPs with an organophosphorous cross-linker, β-[tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphino]propionic acid (THPP) under physiological...