Protein-based molecular imprinting: gelatin nanotraps for interleukin-6 sequestration in inflammation cell models

Protein-derived biomaterials are currently underrated as building blocks in molecular imprinting, even though they offer several benefits, such as biocompatibility and safe biodegradability. Gelatin is a biopolymer that can be easily modified with pendant double bonds for polymerization, making it suitable for tissue engineering and biofabrication. In this study, we used gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) as a building block combined with molecular imprinting technology to create an original class of bioinspired nanotraps specifically capable of sequestering the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). The stability in solution, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the nanotraps were assessed. The nanotraps were selective and specific for IL-6, showing nanomolar affinity and, when tested in vitro on an inflammation cell model, sequestered IL-6 with a dose-response relationship. Overall, our study shows that protein chemistry-driven molecular imprinting could become more widely used to devise biocompatible functional nanomaterials.