Strategies for Fabricating Protein Films for Biomaterial Applications

Proteins are naturally occurring functional building blocks that are useful for the fabrication of materials. Naturally-occurring proteins are biodegradable and most are biocompatible and nontoxic, making them attractive for the fabrication of biomaterials. Moreover, the fabrication of protein-based materials can be conducted in a green and sustainable manner due to their high aqueous solubility. Consequently, the applicability of protein-based materials is limited by their aqueous and mechanical instability. This review summarizes strategies for the stabilization of protein films, highlighting their salient features and potential limitations. Applications of protein films ranging from food packaging materials, tissue engineering scaffolds, antimicrobial coatings etc. are also discussed. Finally, the need for robust and efficient fabrication strategies for translation to commercial applications as well as potential applications of protein films in the field of sensing, diagnostics, and controlled release systems are discussed.