Abstract: Polypeptide multilayer films comprising a hydrophobic designed polypeptide, methods of making the polypeptide multilayer films, and methods of designing the hydrophobic polypeptide are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a film, the method comprising depositing a first layer polyelectrolyte on a surface of a substrate to form a first layer; and depositing a second layer polyelectrolyte on the first layer polyelectrolyte to form a second layer. The first layer polyelectrolyte, the second layer polyelectrolyte, or both, is deposited on the substrate in the presence of a polymeric precipitant; and the first layer polyelectrolyte and the second layer polyelectrolyte have net charges of opposite polarity. Also disclosed are methods of improving bioactive molecule retention during fabrication of a polyelectrolyte multilayer film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multilayer film comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polyelectrolye comprises a composite polypeptide comprising one or more surface adsorption regions covalently linked to one or more functional regions forming a single polypeptide chain. The surface adsorption regions comprise one or more amino acid sequence motifs consisting of 5 to 15 amino acid residues. The one or more functional regions comprise 3 to about 250 amino acid residues.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multilayer films comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polypeptide comprising one or more first amino acid sequence motifs, wherein the one or more first amino acid sequence motifs has a length of 5 to 15 amino acids residues, and wherein the balance of charge in the first amino acid sequence motif at pH 7 is greater than or equal to approximately one-half of the length of the first amino acid sequence motif, wherein the first layer polypeptide is not a homopolymer. Further, a second layer comprises second layer polyelectrolyte comprising a nonprotein polyelectrolyte having a charge opposite that of the first layer polypeptide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are immunogenic compositions comprising a multilayer film comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polyelectrolyte comprises an antigenic polypeptide comprising one or more surface adsorption regions covalently linked to one or more antigenic determinant regions, wherein the antigenic polypeptide and the one or more surface adsorption regions have the same polarity. The immunogenic compositions may be employed in methods of eliciting an immune response in a vertebrate organism.

Abstract: An artificial red blood cells are disclosed comprising a thin film encapsulating a core, the core comprising hemoglobin, wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers of polypeptides, opposing layers comprising alternating oppositely charged polypeptides, and wherein at least half of the amino acid residues in the oppositely charged polypeptides have the same charge. In one embodiment, a first layer comprises a first layer polypeptide comprising one or more first amino acid sequence motifs, wherein the one or more amino acid sequence motifs consist of n amino acids, at least x of which are positively charged, or at least x of which are negatively charged, wherein x is greater than or equal to approximately one-half of n.

Abstract: A method for designing polypeptides suitable, for example, for the nanofabrication of thin films, coatings, and microcapsules by ELBL for applications in biomedicine and other fields is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises identifying an amino acid sequence motif comprising n+1 amino acids, wherein a balance of charges of the same charge in the amino acid sequence motif is greater than or equal to one half of n; and covalently joining two or more amino acid sequence motifs having the same net charge; wherein the two or more amino acid sequence motifs are the same or different.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the stability of multilayer polypeptide films. A method of controlling the stability of a film, comprises exposing the film to an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent, wherein the film comprises a plurality of layers, the layers comprising alternating oppositely charged polypeptides, wherein a first layer comprises a first layer polypeptide and a second layer comprises a second layer polypeptide, and the first layer polypeptide comprises a sulfhydryl-containing amino acid.

Abstract: A method for designing polypeptides for the nanofabrication of thin films, coatings, and microcapsules by ELBL for applications in biomedicine and other fields.