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Lin L, Zhong Y, Lin H, Wang C, Yang Z, Wu Q, Zhang D, Zhu W, Zhong Y, Pan Y, Yu J, Zheng H. Spider Silk-Improved Quartz-Enhanced Conductance Spectroscopy for Medical Mask Humidity Sensing. Molecules 2022; 27:4320. [PMID: 35807564 PMCID: PMC9268163 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider silk is one of the hottest biomaterials researched currently, due to its excellent mechanical properties. This work reports a novel humidity sensing platform based on a spider silk-modified quartz tuning fork (SSM-QTF). Since spider silk is a kind of natural moisture-sensitive material, it does not demand additional sensitization. Quartz-enhanced conductance spectroscopy (QECS) was combined with the SSM-QTF to access humidity sensing sensitively. The results indicate that the resonance frequency of the SSM-QTF decreased monotonously with the ambient humidity. The detection sensitivity of the proposed SSM-QTF sensor was 12.7 ppm at 1 min. The SSM-QTF sensor showed good linearity of ~0.99. Using this sensor, we successfully measured the humidity of disposable medical masks for different periods of wearing time. The results showed that even a 20 min wearing time can lead to a >70% humidity in the mask enclosed space. It is suggested that a disposable medical mask should be changed <2 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leqing Lin
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yu Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Haoyang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Chenglong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Zhifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Qian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Di Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China;
| | - Wenguo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yongchun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yuwei Pan
- Department of Preventive Treatment of Disease, The Affiliated TCM Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510405, China;
| | - Jianhui Yu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Huadan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information and Sensing Technologies of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Optoelectronic Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.L.); (C.W.); (Z.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.Z.)
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China;
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Nanoscale Material Heterogeneity of Glowworm Capture Threads Revealed by AFM. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26123500. [PMID: 34201363 PMCID: PMC8226719 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesive materials used by many arthropods for biological functions incorporate sticky substances and a supporting material that operate synergistically by exploiting substrate attachment and energy dissipation. While there has been much focus on the composition and properties of the sticky glues of these bio-composites, less attention has been given to the materials that support them. In particular, as these materials are primarily responsible for dissipation during adhesive pull-off, little is known of the structures that give rise to functionality, especially at the nano-scale. In this study we used tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) to analyze unstretched and stretched glowworm (Arachnocampa tasmaniensis) capture threads and revealed nano-scale features corresponding to variation in surface structure and elastic modulus near the surface of the silk. Phase images demonstrated a high resolution of viscoelastic variation and revealed mostly globular and elongated features in the material. Increased vertical orientation of 11–15 nm wide fibrillar features was observed in stretched threads. Fast Fourier transform analysis of phase images confirmed these results. Relative viscoelastic properties were also highly variable at inter- and intra-individual levels. Results of this study demonstrate the practical usefulness of TM-AFM, especially phase angle imaging, in investigating the nano-scale structures that give rise to macro-scale function of soft and highly heterogeneous materials of both natural and synthetic origins.
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Dong Q, Fang G, Huang Y, Hu L, Yao J, Shao Z, Ling S, Chen X. Effect of stress on the molecular structure and mechanical properties of supercontracted spider dragline silks. J Mater Chem B 2020; 8:168-176. [PMID: 31789330 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb02032b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Supercontraction is one of the most interesting properties of spider dragline silks. In this study, changes in the secondary structures of the Nephila edulis spider dragline silk after it was subjected to different supercontraction processes were investigated by integrating synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy and mechanical characterization. The results showed that after free supercontraction, the β-sheet lost most of its orientation, while the helix and random coils were almost totally disordered. Interestingly, by conducting different types of supercontractions (i.e., stretching of the free supercontracted spider dragline silk to its original length or performing constrained supercontraction), it was found that although the molecular structures all changed after supercontraction, the mechanical properties almost remained unchanged when the length of the spider dragline silk did not change significantly. The other interesting conclusion obtained is that the manual stretching of a poorly oriented spider dragline silk cannot selectively improve the orientation degree of the β-sheet in the spider silk, but increase the orientation degree of all conformations (β-sheet, helix, and random). These experimental findings not only help to unveil the structure-property-function relationship of natural spider silks, but also provide a useful guideline for the design of biomimetic spider fiber materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guangqiang Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yufang Huang
- Department of Materials Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Linli Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinrong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
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Rim NG, Roberts EG, Ebrahimi D, Dinjaski N, Jacobsen MM, Martín-Moldes Z, Buehler MJ, Kaplan DL, Wong JY. Predicting Silk Fiber Mechanical Properties through Multiscale Simulation and Protein Design. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2017; 3:1542-1556. [PMID: 28966980 PMCID: PMC5617357 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Silk is a promising material for biomedical applications, and much research is focused on how application-specific, mechanical properties of silk can be designed synthetically through proper amino acid sequences and processing parameters. This protocol describes an iterative process between research disciplines that combines simulation, genetic synthesis, and fiber analysis to better design silk fibers with specific mechanical properties. Computational methods are used to assess the protein polymer structure as it forms an interconnected fiber network through shearing and how this process affects fiber mechanical properties. Model outcomes are validated experimentally with the genetic design of protein polymers that match the simulation structures, fiber fabrication from these polymers, and mechanical testing of these fibers. Through iterative feedback between computation, genetic synthesis, and fiber mechanical testing, this protocol will enable a priori prediction capability of recombinant material mechanical properties via insights from the resulting molecular architecture of the fiber network based entirely on the initial protein monomer composition. This style of protocol may be applied to other fields where a research team seeks to design a biomaterial with biomedical application-specific properties. This protocol highlights when and how the three research groups (simulation, synthesis, and engineering) should be interacting to arrive at the most effective method for predictive design of their material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nae-Gyune Rim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Erin G. Roberts
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Davoud Ebrahimi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nina Dinjaski
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Matthew M. Jacobsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Zaira Martín-Moldes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Markus J. Buehler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joyce Y. Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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5
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Lin S, Chen G, Liu X, Meng Q. Chimeric spider silk proteins mediated by intein result in artificial hybrid silks. Biopolymers 2017; 105:385-92. [PMID: 26948769 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid silks hold a great potential as specific biomaterials due to its controlled mechanical properties. To produce fibers with tunable properties, here we firstly made chimeric proteins in vitro, called W2C4CT and W2C8CT, with ligation of MaSp repetitive modules (C) with AcSp modules (W) by intein trans splicing technology from smaller precursors without final yield reduction. Intein mediated chimeric proteins form fibers at a low concentration of 0.4 mg/mL in 50 mM K3 PO4 pH 7.5 just drawn by hand. Hybrid fibers show smoother surface, and also have stronger chemical resistance as compared with fibers from W2CT (W fibers) and mixture of W2CT/C8CT (MHF8 fibers). Fibers from chimeric protein W2C4CT (HFH4) have improved mechanical properties than W fibers; however, with more C modules W2C8CT fibers (HFH8) properties decreased, indicates the length proportion of various modules is very important and should be optimized for fibers with specific properties. Generally, hybrid silks generated via chimeric proteins, which can be simplified by intein trans splicing, has greater potential to produce fibers with tunable properties. Our research shows that intein mediated directional protein ligation is a novel way to make large chimeric spider silk proteins and hybrid silks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 105: 385-392, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senzhu Lin
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Gefei Chen
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangqin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 4R2
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, People's Republic of China
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6
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Lang G, Neugirg BR, Kluge D, Fery A, Scheibel T. Mechanical Testing of Engineered Spider Silk Filaments Provides Insights into Molecular Features on a Mesoscale. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:892-900. [PMID: 27935285 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b13093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk shows the highest toughness in comparison to all other known natural or man-made fibers. Despite a broad experimental foundation concerning the macroscopic silk thread properties as well as a thorough simulation-based molecular understanding, the impact of the mesoscale building blocks, namely nano-/submicrometer-sized filaments, on the mechanical properties of the threads remains the missing link. Here, we illustrate the function of these mesoscaled building blocks using electrospun fibers made of a recombinant spider silk protein and show the impact of β-sheet content and fiber hydration on their mechanical performance. Specifically elucidating the interplay between β-sheet-cross-linking (fiber strength) and structural water (fiber extensibility), the results bridge the gap between the molecular and the macroscopic view on the mechanics of spider silk. It is demonstrated that the extensibility of the here used single (MaSp2-like) protein system is in good accordance with the simulated extensibilities published by other groups. Furthermore, sufficient hydration of the fibers is shown to be a prerequisite to obtain a toughness in the range of that of natural dragline silk. Preliminary studies on electrospun fibers of the MaSp2-based recombinant spider silk proteins used in this work have indicated their basic applicability in the technical field of filter systems as well as in regenerative medicine. The presented work provides a fundamental understanding of the mechanical performance of such fibers under different wetting conditions, a prerequisite to further specify their potential for such applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V., Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics , Dresden 01069, Germany
- Chair for Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Technical University Dresden , Dresden 01069, Germany
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7
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Lin S, Ryu S, Tokareva O, Gronau G, Jacobsen MM, Huang W, Rizzo DJ, Li D, Staii C, Pugno NM, Wong JY, Kaplan DL, Buehler MJ. Predictive modelling-based design and experiments for synthesis and spinning of bioinspired silk fibres. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6892. [PMID: 26017575 PMCID: PMC4996357 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Scalable computational modelling tools are required to guide the rational design of complex hierarchical materials with predictable functions. Here, we utilize mesoscopic modelling, integrated with genetic block copolymer synthesis and bioinspired spinning process, to demonstrate de novo materials design that incorporates chemistry, processing and material characterization. We find that intermediate hydrophobic/hydrophilic block ratios observed in natural spider silks and longer chain lengths lead to outstanding silk fibre formation. This design by nature is based on the optimal combination of protein solubility, self-assembled aggregate size and polymer network topology. The original homogeneous network structure becomes heterogeneous after spinning, enhancing the anisotropic network connectivity along the shear flow direction. Extending beyond the classical polymer theory, with insights from the percolation network model, we illustrate the direct proportionality between network conductance and fibre Young's modulus. This integrated approach provides a general path towards de novo functional network materials with enhanced mechanical properties and beyond (optical, electrical or thermal) as we have experimentally verified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangchao Lin
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA
| | - Seunghwa Ryu
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305-338, Korea
| | - Olena Tokareva
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Greta Gronau
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Institute for Particle Technology, Technische Universitat Braunschweig, Braunschweig 38104, Germany
| | - Matthew M Jacobsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Wenwen Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Daniel J Rizzo
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - David Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Cristian Staii
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Nicola M Pugno
- Laboratory of Bio-Inspired and Graphene Nanomechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, I-38123 Trento, Italy
- Centre for Materials and Microsystems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive 18, I-38123 Trento, Italy
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Joyce Y Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Markus J Buehler
- Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics (LAMM), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Physical characterization of the liquid adhesive from orb-weaving spiders. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2014; 34:341-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2013.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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9
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Menezes GM, Teulé F, Lewis RV, Silva LP, Rech EL. Nanoscale investigations of synthetic spider silk fibers modified by physical and chemical processes. Polym J 2013. [DOI: 10.1038/pj.2013.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Huang H, Hu J, Zhu Y. Shape-Memory Biopolymers Based on β-Sheet Structures of Polyalanine Segments Inspired by Spider Silks. Macromol Biosci 2012; 13:161-6. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201200306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 11/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Bauer F, Scheibel T. Artifizielle Eierstiele, hergestellt aus rekombinant produziertem Florfliegenseidenprotein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201200591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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12
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Bauer F, Scheibel T. Artificial egg stalks made of a recombinantly produced lacewing silk protein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012; 51:6521-4. [PMID: 22593030 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201200591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Rigid threads: Lacewings protect their eggs from predators by laying them on small stalks (see picture). The stalks have good mechanical properties and, unlike most other silks, a cross β structure. An artificial egg stalk was produced using a designed recombinant variant of a sequenced lacewing egg stalk protein, and it attained 90 % of the tensile strength of a natural egg stalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Bauer
- Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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Lefèvre T, Paquet-Mercier F, Rioux-Dubé JF, Pézolet M. Review structure of silk by raman spectromicroscopy: from the spinning glands to the fibers. Biopolymers 2011; 97:322-36. [PMID: 21882171 DOI: 10.1002/bip.21712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy has long been proved to be a useful tool to study the conformation of protein-based materials such as silk. Thanks to recent developments, linearly polarized Raman spectromicroscopy has appeared very efficient to characterize the molecular structure of native single silk fibers and spinning dopes because it can provide information relative to the protein secondary structure, molecular orientation, and amino acid composition. This review will describe recent advances in the study of the structure of silk by Raman spectromicroscopy. A particular emphasis is put on the spider dragline and silkworm cocoon threads, other fibers spun by orb-weaving spiders, the spinning dope contained in their silk glands and the effect of mechanical deformation. Taken together, the results of the literature show that Raman spectromicroscopy is particularly efficient to investigate all aspects of silk structure and production. The data provided can lead to a better understanding of the structure of the silk dope, transformations occurring during the spinning process, and structure and mechanical properties of native fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Lefèvre
- Département de Chimie - Centre de recherche sur les matériaux avancés (CERMA) - Centre québécois sur les matériaux fonctionnels (CQMF), Université Laval, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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Kinahan ME, Filippidi E, Köster S, Hu X, Evans HM, Pfohl T, Kaplan DL, Wong J. Tunable silk: using microfluidics to fabricate silk fibers with controllable properties. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:1504-11. [PMID: 21438624 DOI: 10.1021/bm1014624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite widespread use of silk, it remains a significant challenge to fabricate fibers with properties similar to native silk. It has recently been recognized that the key to tuning silk fiber properties lies in controlling internal structure of assembled β-sheets. We report an advance in the precise control of silk fiber formation with control of properties via microfluidic solution spinning. We use an experimental approach combined with modeling to accurately predict and independently tune fiber properties including Young's modulus and diameter to customize fibers. This is the first reported microfluidic approach capable of fabricating functional fibers with predictable properties and provides new insight into the structural transformations responsible for the unique properties of silk. Unlike bulk processes, our method facilitates the rapid and inexpensive fabrication of fibers from small volumes (50 μL) that can be characterized to investigate sequence-structure-property relationships to optimize recombinant silk technology to match and exceed natural silk properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Kinahan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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15
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Gomes S, Numata K, Leonor IB, Mano JF, Reis RL, Kaplan DL. AFM study of morphology and mechanical properties of a chimeric spider silk and bone sialoprotein protein for bone regeneration. Biomacromolecules 2011; 12:1675-85. [PMID: 21370930 DOI: 10.1021/bm2000605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to assess a new chimeric protein consisting of a fusion protein of the consensus repeat for Nephila clavipes spider dragline protein and bone sialoprotein (6mer+BSP). The elastic modulus of this protein in film form was assessed through force curves, and film surface roughness was also determined. The results showed a significant difference among the elastic modulus of the chimeric silk protein, 6mer+BSP, and control films consisting of only the silk component (6mer). The behavior of the 6mer+BSP and 6mer proteins in aqueous solution in the presence of calcium (Ca) ions was also assessed to determine interactions between the inorganic and organic components related to bone interactions, anchoring, and biomaterial network formation. The results demonstrated the formation of protein networks in the presence of Ca(2+) ions, characteristics that may be important in the context of controlling materials assembly and properties related to bone formation with this new chimeric silk-BSP protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Gomes
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal
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Torres FG, Troncoso OP, Piaggio F, Hijar A. Structure-property relationships of a biopolymer network: the eggshell membrane. Acta Biomater 2010; 6:3687-93. [PMID: 20227532 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2010.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2009] [Revised: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The eggshell membrane (ESM) is a biopolymer network that may have potential applications in biomedicine, but it also may reveal important details regarding the behaviour of biopolymer networks. In this paper, we have studied the mechanical and morphological properties of the ESM in order to reveal important structure-property relationships. Light optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to assess the morphology of the ESM. The mechanical properties of membranes and individual fibres were studied by means of tensile tests and nanoindentation tests, respectively. The mechanical behaviour of ESM networks in different environmental conditions showed a non-linear and a linear regime. As for elastomers and other biopolymer systems, the non-linear regime was modelled by the Mooney-Rivlin relation. The Young's modulus in the linear regime of the network was related to the Young's modulus of the individual fibres using Gibson and Ashby analysis for cellular solids. The results of morphological characterization were used to relate the properties of individual fibres to the properties of the whole networks. This enabled us to predict the macroscopical properties of the network based on the properties of the individual fibres. It was found that the ESM networks behaved as both Mooney-Rivlin and Hookean materials in different environmental conditions. This study helps elucidate the properties of the biopolymer networks found in nature and describes important mechanical properties for the use of the ESM as a biomaterial.
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Hu X, Wang X, Rnjak J, Weiss AS, Kaplan DL. Biomaterials derived from silk-tropoelastin protein systems. Biomaterials 2010; 31:8121-31. [PMID: 20674969 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A structural protein blend system based on silkworm silk fibroin and recombinant human tropoelastin is described. Silk fibroin, a semicrystalline fibrous protein with beta-sheet crystals provides mechanical strength and controllable biodegradation, while tropoelastin, a noncrystallizable elastic protein provides elasticity. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) indicated that silk becomes miscible with tropoelastin at different blend ratios, without macrophase separation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed secondary structural changes of the blend system (beta-sheet content) before and after methanol treatment. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation demonstrated that blending silk and tropoelastin at different ratios resulted in modification of mechanical features, with resilience from approximately 68%- approximately 97%, and elastic modulus between 2 and 9 Mpa, depending on the ratio of the two polymers. Some of these values are close to those of native aortic elastin or elastin-like polypeptides. Significantly, during blending and drying silk-tropoelastin form micro- and nano-scale porous morphologies which promote human mesenchymal stem cell attachment and proliferation. These blends offer a new protein biomaterial system for cell support and tailored biomaterial properties to match mechanical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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Agnarsson I, Dhinojwala A, Sahni V, Blackledge TA. Spider silk as a novel high performance biomimetic muscle driven by humidity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 212:1990-4. [PMID: 19525423 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.028282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The abrupt halt of a bumble bee's flight when it impacts the almost invisible threads of an orb web provides an elegant example of the amazing strength and toughness of spider silk. Spiders depend upon these properties for survival, yet the impressive performance of silk is not limited solely to tensile mechanics. Here, we show that silk also exhibits powerful cyclic contractions, allowing it to act as a high performance mimic of biological muscles. These contractions are actuated by changes in humidity alone and repeatedly generate work 50 times greater than the equivalent mass of human muscle. Although we demonstrate that this response is general and occurs weakly in diverse hydrophilic materials, the high modulus of spider silk is such that it generates exceptional force. Furthermore, because this effect already operates at the level of single silk fibers, only 5 microm in diameter, it can easily be scaled across the entire size range at which biological muscles operate. By contrast, the most successful synthetic muscles developed so far are driven by electric voltage, such that they cannot scale easily across large ranges in cross-sectional areas. The potential applicability of silk muscles is further enhanced by our finding that silkworm fibers also exhibit cyclic contraction because they are already available in commercial quantities. The simplicity of using wet or dry air to drive the biomimetic silk muscle fibers and the incredible power generated by silk offer unique possibilities in designing lightweight and compact actuators for robots and micro-machines, new sensors, and green energy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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Fu C, Porter D, Shao Z. Moisture Effects on Antheraea pernyi Silk’s Mechanical Property. Macromolecules 2009. [DOI: 10.1021/ma901321k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chengjie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - David Porter
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, United Kingdom
| | - Zhengzhong Shao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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Blackledge TA, Boutry C, Wong SC, Baji A, Dhinojwala A, Sahni V, Agnarsson I. How super is supercontraction? Persistent versus cyclic responses to humidity in spider dragline silk. J Exp Biol 2009; 212:1981-9. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.028944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
Spider dragline silk has enormous potential for the development of biomimetic fibers that combine strength and elasticity in low density polymers. These applications necessitate understanding how silk reacts to different environmental conditions. For instance, spider dragline silk`supercontracts' in high humidity. During supercontraction, unrestrained dragline silk contracts up to 50% of its original length and restrained fibers generate substantial stress. Here we characterize the response of dragline silk to changes in humidity before, during and after supercontraction. Our findings demonstrate that dragline silk exhibits two qualitatively different responses to humidity. First, silk undergoes a previously unknown cyclic relaxation–contraction response to wetting and drying. The direction and magnitude of this cyclic response is identical both before and after supercontraction. By contrast, supercontraction is a `permanent' tensioning of restrained silk in response to high humidity. Here, water induces stress,rather than relaxation and the uptake of water molecules results in a permanent change in molecular composition of the silk, as demonstrated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Even after drying, silk mass increased by∼1% after supercontraction. By contrast, the cyclic response to humidity involves a reversible uptake of water. Dried, post-supercontraction silk also differs mechanically from virgin silk. Post-supercontraction silk exhibits reduced stiffness and stress at yield, as well as changes in dynamic energy storage and dissipation. In addition to advancing understanding supercontraction, our findings open up new applications for synthetic silk analogs. For example, dragline silk emerges as a model for a biomimetic muscle, the contraction of which is precisely controlled by humidity alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cecilia Boutry
- Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Shing-Chung Wong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325,USA
| | - Avinash Baji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325,USA
| | - Ali Dhinojwala
- Department of Polymer Science, Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Vasav Sahni
- Department of Polymer Science, Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931, USA
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Agnarsson I, Boutry C, Wong SC, Baji A, Dhinojwala A, Sensenig AT, Blackledge TA. Supercontraction forces in spider dragline silk depend on hydration rate. ZOOLOGY 2009; 112:325-31. [PMID: 19477107 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2008.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2008] [Revised: 11/17/2008] [Accepted: 11/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Spider dragline silk is a model biological polymer for biomimetic research due to its many desirable and unusual properties. 'Supercontraction' describes the dramatic shrinking of dragline silk fibers when wetted. In restrained silk fibers, supercontraction generates substantial stresses of 40-50 MPa above a critical humidity of approximately 70% relative humidity (RH). This stress may maintain tension in webs under the weight of rain or dew and could be used in industry for robotics, sensor technology, and other applications. Our own findings indicate that supercontraction can generate stress over a much broader range than previously reported, from 10 to 140 MPa. Here we show that this variation in supercontraction stress depends upon the rate at which the environment reaches the critical level of humidity causing supercontraction. Slow humidity increase, over several minutes, leads to relatively low supercontraction stress, while fast humidity increase, over a few seconds, typically results in higher supercontraction stress. Slowly supercontracted fibers take up less water and differ in thermostability from rapidly supercontracted fibers, as shown by thermogravimetric analysis. This suggests that spider silk achieves different molecular configurations depending upon the speed at which supercontraction occurs. Ultimately, rate-dependent supercontraction may provide a mechanism to tailor the properties of silk or biomimetic fibers for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, Integrated Bioscience Program, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325-3908, USA
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Fu C, Shao Z, Fritz V. Animal silks: their structures, properties and artificial production. Chem Commun (Camb) 2009:6515-29. [DOI: 10.1039/b911049f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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