42 Polymer Information
Kayla Coppin and brtryon
Collagen
Collagen is the main structural protein found in skin and connective tissues. Normally extracted from dead animals like pigs and cows. In this TED Talk, it is discussed that collagen can be genetically modified into tobacco plants for easier and more ethical extraction. Collagen is made of amino acids and some of its properties include great tensile strength and flexibility, high degree of crystallinity, and rigidity. Collagen is used for tendon and ligament implantation because of its high tensile strength and flexibility which gives tendons their strength and elasticity.
Figure 3: Collagen chemical structure. Image Source: ResearchGate
Cellulose
Cellulose is the main polysaccharide found in plant cell walls made of glucose. Nanocrystalline cellulose can be 10x stronger than steel and used in a multitude of applications. Can be alternatively obtained through paper pulp. Cellulose is insoluble in water, typically found in crystal form that forms a white powdery, and is known for being biodegradable. Cellulose is used for high tensile strength applications, since its crystal structure provides high strength.
Figure 4: Cellulose chemical structure. Image Source: ResearchGate
Resilin
Resilin is an elastomeric protein found in many insects, such as cat fleas. It is a generic term that represents many different proteins from a variety of insects. Plants can be genetically modified to produce resilin with cat flea DNA. This protein is very elastic and allows for many species to jump or pivot. The chemical structure is made up of Glycine and Proline that is randomly coiled with a disordered structure and since it is a generic term for a variety of proteins, one exact chemical structure does not exist. Resilin is an entropic elastomer, with its elongation to break between 300-400%. It has very low solubility and is thermally stable up to 140 C.
Figure 5: Resilin chemical structure. Image Source: Science Direct
