Multicolor Luminescence from Conjugates of Genetically Encoded Elastin-like Polymers and Terpyridine-Lanthanides

Functional hybrid materials with optically active metal-ligand moieties embedded within a polymer matrix have a great potential in (bio)materials science, including applications in light-emitting diode devices. Here, a simple strategy is reported to incorporate terpyridine derivatives into the side chains of elastin-like polymers (ELPs). The further binding of trivalent lanthanide ions with the terpyridine ligands generates an array of photoluminescence ranging from the visible to the near-infrared regions. As thin films, these ELP-based optical materials also exhibit distinct morphologies that depend upon the temperature of the aqueous solutions from which the hybrid polymers are spin coated or drop cast. Photoluminescent metallo-biopolymers are assembled via a facile and versatile plug-and-play approach. Integration of terpyridine and then lanthanides into genetically encoded elastin-like polymers yields emitting platforms displaying an array of tunable luminescent colors across the visible and near-infrared regions. The demonstrated strategy for constructing such hybrid (bio)polymer assemblies provides a sustainable path toward functional optical (bio)materials.