Albumin fibers and fabrics and methods of generating and using same

Abstract

Provided are method of generating a fiber from a globular protein such as albumin. Also provided are albumin fibers and fabrics and methods of using same for bonding a damaged tissue or for ex vivo or in vivo formation of a tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of bonding a damaged tissue of a subject, comprising introducing to the damaged tissue of the subject a fabric comprising a polymer which comprises serum albumin molecules covalently connected to each other by disulfide bonds, thereby bonding the damaged tissue of the subject. 
     
     
         2 . A method of inducing ex vivo formation of a tissue, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a fabric comprising a polymer which comprises serum albumin molecules covalently connected to each other by disulfide bonds; and   (ii) seeding said albumin fabric with cells in a medium selected suitable for proliferation, differentiation and/or migration of said cells to thereby induce the ex vivo formation of the tissue.   
     
     
         3 . A method of inducing in vivo formation of a tissue, the method comprising:
 (i) providing a fabric comprising a polymer which comprises serum albumin molecules covalently connected to each other by disulfide bonds; and   (ii) implanting said albumin fabric in a subject to thereby induce the in vivo formation of the tissue.   
     
     
         4 . A method of generating a fiber from a globular protein, comprising:
 (a) dissolving the globular protein into a solution, said solution comprising a reducing agent; and   (b) evaporating said solution under conditions suitable for polymerization of the globular protein;   thereby generating the fiber from the globular protein.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising extruding said solution in an electric field following step (a). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said reducing agent comprises beta-mercapto-ethanol (βME). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said solution further comprises trifluoroethanol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the globular protein is a serum albumin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said conditions comprise presence of oxygen. 
     
     
         10 . A method of generating a fiber from a globular protein, comprising:
 (a) dissolving the globular protein into a solution, said solution comprising a plasticizing agent;   (b) extruding said solution in an electric field; and   (c) evaporating said solution under conditions suitable for formation of the fiber from the globular protein;   thereby generating the fiber from the globular protein.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said plasticizing agent comprises glycerol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said solution further comprises trifluoroethanol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said solution further comprising a reducing agent. 
     
     
         14 . A fiber formed according to the method of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         15 . The fiber of  claim 14 , wherein the fiber is attached to a light absorbing agent, a drug molecule or a plurality of cells. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising forming the fiber into a fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising thermally curing said fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising plasma treating of said fabric. 
     
     
         19 . A fabric formed according to the method of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said fabric is non-woven. 
     
     
         21 . A structure coated with the fabric of  claim 19 . 
     
     
         22 . A fiber comprising a serum albumin polymer. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber of  claim 22 , wherein substantially all serum albumin molecules of said polymer are covalently attached to other serum albumin molecules of said polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The fiber of  claim 22 , being characterized by an elastic modulus of at least 1000 MPa. 
     
     
         25 . The fiber of  claim 22 , being characterized by a tensile stress of at least 20 MPa.