Biomedical scientists invent shape-shifting nanomaterial with biogenic capabilities

Made of synthetic collagen, scientists from Emory University have developed a new nanomaterial that can trigger shape lift from sheets to tubes and back in a controllable fashion. Vincent Conticello, senior author of the finding and Emory professor of biomolecular chemistry said, “ For the first time, we can convert it from sheets to tubes and back simply by varying the pH, or acid concentration, in its environment.” The Emory Office of Technology Transfer has applied for a provisional patent for the nanomaterial. Conticello’s lab is one of only about a few dozen around the world focused on developing synthetic collagen suitable for applications in biomedicine and other complex technologies. The ultimate goal was to develop collagen sheets that could be integrated with a medical device by making one surface compatible with the device and the other surface compatible with functional proteins in the body.