Simple conditions for large morphological variations in thermoresponsive biopolymeric microstructures

Abstract

Thermoresponsive biopolymeric microstructures are prepared by exploiting the thermal phase transitions of emulsified elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs). ELP microbeads prepared below the transition temperature (T_t) have positively thermoresponsive pores. ELP microcapsules prepared above T_t have negatively thermoresponsive pores. Interestingly, the ELP microcapsules prepared at the temperature of the transition state displayed bidirectional thermoresponsive behavior.