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Ultrabithorax (Ubx) is a Hox gene transcription factor regulating the growth of wings and limbs in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the protein can also be produced recombinantly, and can self-assemble to form a film at the air-water interface. Materials drawn from this film, including fibres and thin coatings, are elastic, bio- and cyto-compatible. Moreover, Ubx can be functionalised with other biomolecules to form protein fusions. In this work, the physical properties of Ubx fibres and electrospun mats containing Ubx were investigated. An electrical conductivity comparable to semiconductors was discovered in enhanced green fluorescent protein- Ubx (EGFP-Ubx) fibres. The photoluminescence properties of pure Ubx, EGFP-Ubx, and electrospun poly(ethylene oxide)/EGFP-Ubx complexes were compared and the fluorescence emission peaks were found at 420nm for poly(ethylene oxide), 442nm for Ubx, and 512nm for EGFP. Moreover, the effect of material production method on the fluorescence lifetime was investigated and revealed differences between self-assembled microfibres and electrospun mats with fibre diameters below 1 μm. Finally, Ubx fibres were functionalised with DNA aptamers, and E.coli binding was increased using three different aptamers compared to pure fibres. The increase was 15% increase for the P12 aptamer, 92% for the STC12 aptamer, and 167% for the Antibac2 aptamer. Developments in large-scale material formation could support the functional Ubx materials in becoming a platform material for biosensing and tissue regeneration.
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