Engineered proteins, and methods of making and using

1. A lens comprising a crosslinked engineered protein, which comprises repeated blocks of an elastin domain, wherein the lens is optically transparent, resistant to biodegradation, biocompatible, and is in a shape suitable for incorporation into the eye.

2. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the engineered protein further comprises at least one fibronectin domain and the lens stimulates the adhesion of adjacent cells.

3. The lens of claim 2 , wherein the fibronectin domain comprises one of SEQ ID NO: 26 or 27 and the elastin domain comprises one of SEQ ID NO: 2–4, 11, 12–19, or 20.

4. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the engineered protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 1.

5. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the degree of cross-linking is nonuniform.

6. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking is in a predetermined pattern.

7. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the lens is capable of further cross-linking.

8. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the engineered protein is modified by the attachment of at least one acryloyl or methacryloyl group to the protein.

9. The lens of claim 1 , wherein the engineered protein is a low molecular weight protein of less than about 15 kilodaltons.

10. The lens of claim 1 , wherein said lens is selected from the group consisting of contact lens, corneal onlay, corneal graft, corneal inlay and intraocular lens.

11. The lens of claim 1 , wherein said lens is a corneal onlay.

12. The lens of claim 1 , wherein said lens has an elastic modulus of about 0.05 MPa to about 2.0 MPa.

13. An engineered protein, wherein the protein comprises a CS1 or type III fibronectin cell binding domain, and an elastin domain, wherein the fibronectin cell binding domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 26.

14. An engineered protein, wherein the protein comprises a CS1 or type III fibronectin cell binding domain, and an elastin domain, wherein the fibronectin cell binding domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 27.

15. An engineered protein, wherein the protein comprises a CS1 or type III fibronectin cell binding domain, and an elastin domain, wherein the protein comprises SEQ ID NO: 1.

16. The engineered protein of any one of claims 13 , 14 , or 15 , wherein the engineered protein is modified by the attachment of at least one acryloyl or methacryloyl group to the protein.

17. The engineered protein of any one of claims 13 , 14 , or 15 , wherein the engineered protein is less than about 15 kilodaltons in molecular weight.

18. A method for correcting the optical properties of an eye comprising the step of implanting into or onto the cornea a corneal onlay which is optically transparent, resistant to biodegradation, biocompatible, and is in a shape suitable for incorporation into the eye, the corneal onlay comprising an engineered protein, wherein the engineered protein comprises a fibronectin cell binding domain and a block repeat polymer of an elastin domain.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the surface of the onlay stimulates the adhesion of cells adjacent to the implanted onlay.

20. A material for use in a mammalian eye, comprising:

a crosslinked engineered protein comprising a polymer of block repeats in a shape compatible with incorporation into the eye

wherein the material is biocompatible, transparent to visible light, has a refractive index compatible with vision by the eye, and

wherein the material forms a hydrogel in water due to a block repeat content of the engineered protein and which has an elastic modulus in the hydrogel state of about 0.01 MPa to about 5.0 MPa,

wherein the block repeats are of an elastin domain, a collagen domain, a keratin domain, or combinations thereof,

wherein the elastin domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2–4, 11, 12–20, and combinations thereof,

the collagen domain comprises a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 22–23, 25, and mixtures thereof, and

the keratin domain comprises SEQ ID NO: 21.