βsheet tapes ribbons in tissue engineering

1. A self assembling polypeptide (SAP) that forms ribbons, fibrils or fibres in a β-sheet tape-like substructure at physiological pH and physiological salt concentrations, and wherein the polypeptide comprises P 11-17 (TTRFEWEFETT, SEQ ID NO: 9).

2. A dental product comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

3. A dental repair or reconstruction or preventative product comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

4. A tissue engineering scaffold comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

5. The tissue engineering scaffold according to claim 4 , wherein the scaffold is seeded with cells.

6. A bone repair or reconstruction product comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

7. The bone repair or reconstruction product according to claim 6 , wherein the product is seeded with cells.

8. A soft tissue or reconstruction product comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

9. A skin treatment comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

10. A hair care product comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

11. A bioresponsive and biocompatible surface comprising the self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 .

12. The self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 , comprising continuous filaments, yarns, staple, floc, cord, or fabric.

13. The self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer.

14. The self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the physiological pH is about 7.5.

15. The self-assembling polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the physiological salt concentration is about 145 mM NaCl.

16. A composition, comprising:

ribbons, fibrils or fibres, wherein each of the ribbons, fibrils or fibres has an antiparallel arrangement of peptides in a β-sheet tape-like substructure at physiological pH and physiological salt concentrations, wherein the composition comprises peptide P 11-17 (TTRFEWEFETT, SEQ ID NO: 9); and a physiological concentration of salt.

17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises fibrils, and wherein the fibrils are comprised in a network of fibrils interconnected at fibre-like junctions.

18. A dental composition comprising the fibrils of claim 16 .

19. A dental repair or reconstruction or preventative composition comprising the fibrils of claim 16 .

20. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the composition is in the form of a tissue engineering scaffold.

21. The composition according to claim 20 , comprising the scaffold seeded with cells.

22. A bone repair or reconstruction composition comprising the fibrils of claim 16 .

23. A soft tissue or reconstruction composition comprising the fibrils of claim 16 .

24. The composition according to claim 22 that is seeded with cells.

25. A skin treatment comprising the composition of fibrils of claim 16 .

26. A hair care product comprising the composition of fibrils of claim 16 .

27. A part of a bioresponsive and biocompatible surface comprising the composition of fibrils of claim 16 .

28. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises continuous filament yarns, staple, floc, cord, or fabric.

29. The composition of claim 16 , further comprising a polymer.

30. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the physiological pH is about 7.5.

31. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the physiological salt concentration is about 145 mM NaCl.

32. A method of forming a tape, comprising contacting the SAP of claim 1 with an ionic aqueous medium, thereby forming a tape.

33. A method of forming a gel, comprising contacting the SAP of claim 1 with an ionic aqueous medium, thereby forming a gel.

34. A method of forming a tape, comprising contacting the composition of claim 16 with an ionic aqueous medium, thereby forming a tape.

35. A method of forming a gel, comprising contacting the composition of claim 16 with an ionic aqueous medium, thereby forming a gel.