Multi-Site Incorporation of Nonstandard Amino Acids into Protein-Based Biomaterials

The ability of natural biomaterials to shape, support, and orchestrate function inspires our efforts to produce functional materials. Guided by protein-based biomaterials, template-directed incorporation of synthetic building blocks, such as nonstandard amino acids (nsAAs), can expand the functions of biomaterials by endowing them with new physical and biophysical properties. In this short review, we describe existing technologies for multi-site nsAA incorporation into proteins. We then discuss examples of the application of this technology for engineering new functions in artificial biopolymers, for creating bio-inspired adhesives, and for improving the stability of biomaterials. We conclude by briefly discussing recent advances in synthetic biology that have the potential to expand our ability to design protein-based biomaterials composed of numerous and increasingly exotic nonstandard monomers.