Canadian researchers have created a protein-based material that could contribute to the development of artificial muscle. The elastic material mimics the structure of titan, a muscle protein. Developed at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the material was made by chemically linking single protein strands together to create a hydrogel. The researchers used a mechanically stable protein sequence that could form globules and the protein resilin. Testing conducted on the material revealed that it behaved like real muscle tissue--it could stretch and bounce back. In addition, when the material was stretched with even more force, it dissipated and then returned to its original form. 

The work is detailed in a recent issue of the journal Nature.