Protein fibers as performance proteins: new technologies and applications

Natural Protein Photon Upconversion Supramolecular Assemblies for Background-Free Biosensing

The diagnosis of disease biomarkers is crucial for the identification, monitoring, and prognostic assessment of malignant disease. However, biological samples with autofluorescence, complex components, and heterogeneity pose major challenges to reliable biosensing. Here, we report the self-assembly of natural proteins and the triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) pair to form upconverted protein clusters (∼8.2 ± 1.1 nm), which were further assembled into photon upconversion supramolecular assemblies (PUSA). This PUSA exhibited unique features, including a small size (∼44.1 ± 4.1 nm), oxygen tolerance, superior biocompatibility, and easy storage via lyophilization, all of which are long sought after for photon upconversion materials. Further, we have revealed that the steric hindrance of the annihilator suppresses the stacking of the annihilator in PUSA, which is vital for maintaining the water dispersibility and enhancing the upconversion performance of PUSA. In conjunction with sarcosine oxidase, this near infrared (NIR)-excitable PUSA nanoprobe could perform background-free biosensing of urinary sarcosine, which is a common biomarker for prostatic carcinoma (PCa). More importantly, this nanoprobe not only allows for qualitative identification of urinary samples from PCa patients by the unaided eye under NIR-light-emitting diode (LED) illumination but also quantifies the concentration of urinary sarcosine. These remarkable findings have propelled photon upconversion materials to a new evolutionary stage and expedited the progress of upconversion biosensing in clinical diagnostics.

Bridging Nature and Engineering: Protein-Derived Materials for Bio-Inspired Applications

The sophisticated, elegant protein-polymers designed by nature can serve as inspiration to redesign and biomanufacture protein-based materials using synthetic biology. Historically, petro-based polymeric materials have dominated industrial activities, consequently transforming our way of living. While this benefits humans, the fabrication and disposal of these materials causes environmental sustainability challenges. Fortunately, protein-based biopolymers can compete with and potentially surpass the performance of petro-based polymers because they can be biologically produced and degraded in an environmentally friendly fashion. This paper reviews four groups of protein-based polymers, including fibrous proteins (collagen, silk fibroin, fibrillin, and keratin), elastomeric proteins (elastin, resilin, and wheat glutenin), adhesive/matrix proteins (spongin and conchiolin), and cyanophycin. We discuss the connection between protein sequence, structure, function, and biomimetic applications. Protein engineering techniques, such as directed evolution and rational design, can be used to improve the functionality of natural protein-based materials. For example, the inclusion of specific protein domains, particularly those observed in structural proteins, such as silk and collagen, enables the creation of novel biomimetic materials with exceptional mechanical properties and adaptability. This review also discusses recent advancements in the production and application of new protein-based materials through the approach of synthetic biology combined biomimetics, providing insight for future research and development of cutting-edge bio-inspired products. Protein-based polymers that utilize nature's designs as a base, then modified by advancements at the intersection of biology and engineering, may provide mankind with more sustainable products.

Protein-Engineered Fibers For Drug Encapsulation Traceable via 19F Magnetic Resonance

Theranostic materials research is experiencing rapid growth driven by the interest in integrating both therapeutic and diagnostic modalities. These materials offer the unique capability to not only provide treatment but also track the progression of a disease. However, to create an ideal theranostic biomaterial without compromising drug encapsulation, diagnostic imaging must be optimized for improved sensitivity and spatial localization. Herein, we create a protein-engineered fluorinated coiled-coil fiber, Q2TFL, capable of improved sensitivity to 19F magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) detection. Leveraging residue-specific noncanonical amino acid incorporation of trifluoroleucine (TFL) into the coiled-coil, Q2, which self-assembles into nanofibers, we generate Q2TFL. We demonstrate that fluorination results in a greater increase in thermostability and 19F magnetic resonance detection compared to the nonfluorinated parent, Q2. Q2TFL also exhibits linear ratiometric 19F MRS thermoresponsiveness, allowing it to act as a temperature probe. Furthermore, we explore the ability of Q2TFL to encapsulate the anti-inflammatory small molecule, curcumin (CCM), and its impact on the coiled-coil structure. Q2TFL also provides hyposignal contrast in 1H MRI, echogenic signal with high-frequency ultrasound and sensitive detection by 19F MRS in vivo illustrating fluorination of coiled-coils for supramolecular assembly and their use with 1H MRI, 19F MRS and high frequency ultrasound as multimodal theranostic agents.

Green Composites Based on Animal Fiber and Their Applications for a Sustainable Future

Global climate change is already affecting the environment, as glaciers are receding, ice on rivers and lakes is melting, plant and animal range`s have altering, and trees are blooming early. Therefore, focus has shifted towards sustainable materials. There is a growing desire for materials that have a unique combination of qualities that metals, polymers, and other materials cannot provide, therefore scientists are turning their focus to green composites. Green composites offer a wide range of uses in automotive, aerospace, and marine applications. Composites are multiphase resources with separate interfaces that contain chemically different materials. Composites are made up of a variety of materials that are distinct in nature, and they give a set of desirable features that are superior to those of their predecessors or parents. Natural fibers are less expensive, more readily available, rust-resistant, plentiful, nontoxic, and safe for human skin, eyes, and respiratory systems. Green composites are created by combining renewable fibers with polymers (matrix) to create a new class of composites known as "green composites." This review includes studies on various animal-based fibers and their applications. In this article, recent advancements in the field of these fibers and their composites of fibers are also discussed. The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties are also discussed in this paper. Moreover, the benefits and drawbacks of using these fibers are also discussed in detail. Finally, the paper gives an outline of the topic. The results from composites constructed from each fiber are provided, along with appropriate references for more in-depth analysis studies. This review is specially performed to strengthen the knowledge bank of the young researchers working in the field of natural composites.

Surface Exposed Free Cysteine Suppresses Crystallization of Human γD-Crystallin

Human γD-crystallin (HGD) has remarkable stability against condensation in the human lens, sometimes over a whole lifetime. The native protein has a surface exposed free cysteine that forms dimers (Benedek, 1997; Ramkumar et al., 1864)^1,2 without specific biological function and leads to further protein association and/or aggregation, which creates a paradox for understanding its stability. Previous work has demonstrated that chemical modification of the protein at the free cysteine (C110), increases the temperature at which liquid-liquid phase separation occurs (LLPS), lowers protein solubility and suggests an important role for this amino acid in maintaining its long-term resistance to condensation. Here we demonstrate that mutation of the cysteine does not alter the structure or solubility (liquidus) line for the protein, but dramatically increases the protein crystal nucleation rate following LLPS, suggesting that the free cysteine has a vital role in suppressing crystallization in the human lens.

Hydrophilicity-Hydrophobicity Transformation, Thermoresponsive Morphomechanics, and Crack Multifurcation Revealed by AIEgens in Mechanically Strong Hydrogels

Biomimetic exploration of stimuli-responsive and crack-resistant hydrogels is of great academic and practical significance, although the rational design of tough hydrogels is limited by insufficient mechanism study due to the lack of imaging techniques to "see" hydrogels at mesoscale level. A series of composite hydrogels with compartmentalized thermal response is designed by incorporating aggregation- and polarity-sensitive fluorescent probes in a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) network grafted with poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) side-chains. The fluorescence technique is explored as a powerful tool to directly visualize their hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity transformation and the composition-dependent microphase separation. Based on the morphological observation and mechanical measurements, the concept of morphomechanics with a comprehensive mechanism clarification is proposed. In this regard, the thermoresponsive toughening is attributed to the formation of multiple noncovalent interactions and the conformational changes of PNIPAM chains. The enhanced fracture energy by crack multifurcation is related to the tearing-like disruption of weak interfaces between the separated phases.

From vesicles to materials: bioinspired strategies for fabricating hierarchically structured soft matter

Certain organisms including species of mollusks, polychaetes, onychophorans and arthropods produce exceptional polymeric materials outside their bodies under ambient conditions using concentrated fluid protein precursors. While much is understood about the structure-function relationships that define the properties of such materials, comparatively less is understood about how such materials are fabricated and specifically, how their defining hierarchical structures are achieved via bottom-up assembly. Yet this information holds great potential for inspiring sustainable manufacture of advanced polymeric materials with controlled multi-scale structure. In the present perspective, we first examine recent work elucidating the formation of the tough adhesive fibres of the mussel byssus via secretion of vesicles filled with condensed liquid protein phases (coacervates and liquid crystals)-highlighting which design principles are relevant for bio-inspiration. In the second part of the perspective, we examine the potential of recent advances in drops and additive manufacturing as a bioinspired platform for mimicking such processes to produce hierarchically structured materials. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)'.

From Protein Building Blocks to Functional Materials

Proteins are the fundamental building blocks for high-performance materials in nature. Such materials fulfill structural roles, as in the case of silk and collagen, and can generate active structures including the cytoskeleton. Attention is increasingly turning to this versatile class of molecules for the synthesis of next-generation green functional materials for a range of applications. Protein nanofibrils are a fundamental supramolecular unit from which many macroscopic protein materials are formed. In this Review, we focus on the multiscale assembly of such protein nanofibrils formed from naturally occurring proteins into new supramolecular architectures and discuss how they can form the basis of material systems ranging from bulk gels, films, fibers, micro/nanogels, condensates, and active materials. We review current and emerging approaches to process and assemble these building blocks in a manner which is different to their natural evolutionarily selected role but allows the generation of tailored functionality, with a focus on microfluidic approaches. We finally discuss opportunities and challenges for this class of materials, including applications that can be involved in this material system which consists of fully natural, biocompatible, and biodegradable feedstocks yet has the potential to generate materials with performance and versatility rivalling that of the best synthetic polymers.

Bioactive hierarchical silk fibers created by bioinspired self-assembly

Artificial recapitulation of the hierarchy of natural protein fibers is crucial to providing strategies for developing advanced fibrous materials. However, it is challenging due to the complexity of the natural environment. Inspired by the liquid crystalline spinning of spiders, we report the development of natural silk-like hierarchical fibers, with bundles of nanofibrils aligned in their long-axis direction, by self-assembly of crystallized silk fibroin (SF) droplets. The formation of self-assembled SF fibers is a process of coalesced droplets sprouting to form a branched fibrous network, which is similar to the development of capillaries in our body. The as-assembled hierarchical SF fibers are highly bioactive and can significantly enhance the spreading and growth of human umbilical vein endothelial cells compared to the natural SF fibers. This work could help to understand the natural silk spinning process of spiders and provides a strategy for design and development of advanced fibrous biomaterials for various applications.

Peptide-Protein Interactions: From Drug Design to Supramolecular Biomaterials

The self-recognition and self-assembly of biomolecules are spontaneous processes that occur in Nature and allow the formation of ordered structures, at the nanoscale or even at the macroscale, under thermodynamic and kinetic equilibrium as a consequence of specific and local interactions. In particular, peptides and peptidomimetics play an elected role, as they may allow a rational approach to elucidate biological mechanisms to develop new drugs, biomaterials, catalysts, or semiconductors. The forces that rule self-recognition and self-assembly processes are weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attractions, and van der Waals forces, and they underlie the formation of the secondary structure (e.g., α-helix, β-sheet, polyproline II helix), which plays a key role in all biological processes. Here, we present recent and significant examples whereby design was successfully applied to attain the desired structural motifs toward function. These studies are important to understand the main interactions ruling the biological processes and the onset of many pathologies. The types of secondary structure adopted by peptides during self-assembly have a fundamental importance not only on the type of nano- or macro-structure formed but also on the properties of biomaterials, such as the types of interaction, encapsulation, non-covalent interaction, or covalent interaction, which are ultimately useful for applications in drug delivery.

Self-assembled fibrinogen–fibronectin hybrid protein nanofibers with medium-sensitive stability

Hybrid protein nanofibers (hPNFs) have been identified as promising nano building blocks for numerous applications in nanomedicine and tissue engineering. We have recently reported a nature-inspired, self-assembly route to create hPNFs from human plasma proteins, i.e., albumin and hemoglobin. However, it is still unclear whether the same route can be applied to other plasma proteins and whether it is possible to control the composition of the resulting fibers. In this context, to further understand the hPNFs self-assembly mechanism and to optimize their properties, we report herein on ethanol-induced self-assembly of two different plasma proteins, i.e., fibrinogen (FG) and fibronectin (FN). We show that by varying initial protein ratios, the composition and thus the properties of the resulting hPNFs can be fine-tuned. Specifically, atomic force microscopy, hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta potential data together revealed a strong correlation of the hPNFs dimensions and surface charge to their initial protein mixing ratio. The composition-independent prompt dissolution of hPNFs in ultrapure water, in contrast to their stability in PBS, indicates that the molecular arrangement of FN and FG in hPNFs is mainly based on electrostatic interactions. Supported by experimental data we introduce a feasible mechanism that explains the interactions between FN and FG and their self-assembly to hPNFs. These findings contribute to the understanding of dual protein interactions, which can be beneficial in designing innovative biomaterials with multifaceted biological and physical characteristics.

Hybrid protein nanofibers (hPNFs) have been identified as promising nano building blocks for numerous applications in nanomedicine and tissue engineering.

Aggregation and Amyloidogenicity of the Nuclear Coactivator Binding Domain of CREB-Binding Protein

The nuclear coactivator binding domain (NCBD) of transcriptional co-regulator CREB-binding protein (CBP) is an example of conformationally malleable proteins that can bind to structurally unrelated protein targets and adopt distinct folds in the respective protein complexes. Here, we show that the folding landscape of NCBD contains an alternative pathway that results in protein aggregation and self-assembly into amyloid fibers. The initial steps of such protein misfolding are driven by intermolecular interactions of its N-terminal α-helix bringing multiple NCBD molecules into contact. These oligomers then undergo slow but progressive interconversion into β-sheet-containing aggregates. To reveal the concealed aggregation potential of NCBD we used a chemically synthesized mirror-image d-NCBD form. The addition of d-NCBD promoted self-assembly into amyloid precipitates presumably due to formation of thermodynamically more stable racemic β-sheet structures. The unexpected aggregation of NCBD needs to be taken into consideration given the multitude of protein-protein interactions and resulting biological functions mediated by CBP.

Biopolymer Microparticles Prepared by Microfluidics for Biomedical Applications

Biopolymers are macromolecules that are derived from natural sources and have attractive properties for a plethora of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low antigenicity, and high bioactivity. Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful approach for fabricating polymeric microparticles (MPs) with designed structures and compositions through precise manipulation of multiphasic flows at the microscale. The synergistic combination of materials chemistry afforded by biopolymers and precision provided by microfluidic capabilities make it possible to design engineered biopolymer-based MPs with well-defined physicochemical properties that are capable of enabling an efficient delivery of therapeutics, 3D culture of cells, and sensing of biomolecules. Here, an overview of microfluidic approaches is provided for the design and fabrication of functional MPs from three classes of biopolymers including polysaccharides, proteins, and microbial polymers, and their advances for biomedical applications are highlighted. An outlook into the future research on microfluidically-produced biopolymer MPs for biomedical applications is also provided.

Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Engineered Protein-Based Adhesives and Fibers

Protein-based structural biomaterials are of great interest for various applications because the sequence flexibility within the proteins may result in their improved mechanical and structural integrity and tunability. As the two representative examples, protein-based adhesives and fibers have attracted tremendous attention. The typical protein adhesives, which are secreted by mussels, sandcastle worms, barnacles, and caddisfly larvae, exhibit robust underwater adhesion performance. In order to mimic the adhesion performance of these marine organisms, two main biological adhesives are presented, including genetically engineered protein-based adhesives and biomimetic chemically synthetized adhesives. Moreover, various protein-based fibers inspired by spider and silkworm proteins, collagen, elastin, and resilin are studied extensively. The achievements in synthesis and fabrication of structural biomaterials by DNA recombinant technology and chemical regeneration certainly will accelerate the explorations and applications of protein-based adhesives and fibers in wound healing, tissue regeneration, drug delivery, biosensors, and other high-tech applications. However, the mechanical properties of the biological structural materials still do not match those of natural systems. More efforts need to be devoted to the study of the interplay of the protein structure, cohesion and adhesion effects, fiber processing, and mechanical performance.

Peptide-protein based nanofibers in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications

In recent years, electrospun fibers have found wide use, especially in pharmaceutical area and biomedical applications, related to the various advantages such as high surface-volume ratio, high solubility and having wide usage areas they have provided. Biocompatible and biodegradable fibers can be obtained by using peptide-protein structures of plant and animal derived along with synthetic polymers. Plant-derived proteins used in nanofiber production can be listed as, zein, soy protein, and gluten and animal derived proteins can be listed as casein, silk fibroin, hemoglobine, bovine serum albumin, elastin, collagen, gelatin, and keratin. Plant and animal proteins and synthetic peptides used in electrospun fiber production were reviewed in detail. In addition, the important physical properties of these materials for the electrospinning process and their use in pharmaceutical and biomedical areas were discussed.

Novel Amino Acid Assembly in the Silk Tubes of Arid-Adapted Segestriid Spiders

We investigated in different sites inside or outside the Namib Desert the amino acids composition of the protein material forming the tube silk of Ariadna spiders. These spiders belong to the primitive Segestriidae family and spend their life inside vertical silk burrows dug within the sandy and gravelly soil of arid areas. The silks, previously purified by solubilization in hexafluoroisopropanol, were subjected to partial or total acid hydrolysis. Partial hydrolyzed samples, analyzed by mass spectrometry (matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray), led to relevant information on the amino acid sequences in the proteins. The free amino acids formed by complete hydrolysis were derivatized with the Marfey's reagent and characterized by electrospray mass spectrometry. The reconstruction of the amino acids highlights a homogeneous plan in the chemical structure of all the analyzed silks. Eight amino acids constituting the primary structure of the proteins were identified. Alanine and glycine are the most abundant ones, with a prevalence of alanine, constituting together at least 61% of the chemical composition of the protein material, differently from what occurs in known spidroins. High percentages of proline, serine and threonine and low percentages of leucine complete the peculiarity of these proteins. The purified silks were also characterized by Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy and their thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The comparison of the silk tubes among the various Namibian populations, carried out through a multivariate statistical analysis, shows significant differences in their amino acid assembly possibly due to habitat features.

Chemical Synthesis of Silk-Mimetic Polymers

Silk is a naturally occurring high-performance material that can surpass man-made polymers in toughness and strength. The remarkable mechanical properties of silk result from the primary sequence of silk fibroin, which bears semblance to a linear segmented copolymer with alternating rigid ("crystalline") and flexible ("amorphous") blocks. Silk-mimetic polymers are therefore of great emerging interest, as they can potentially exhibit the advantageous features of natural silk while possessing synthetic flexibility as well as non-natural compositions. This review describes the relationships between primary sequence and material properties in natural silk fibroin and furthermore discusses chemical approaches towards the synthesis of silk-mimetic polymers. In particular, step-growth polymerization, controlled radical polymerization, and copolymerization with naturally derived silk fibroin are presented as strategies for synthesizing silk-mimetic polymers with varying molecular weights and degrees of sequence control. Strategies for improving macromolecular solubility during polymerization are also highlighted. Lastly, the relationships between synthetic approach, supramolecular structure, and bulk material properties are explored in this review, with the aim of providing an informative perspective on the challenges facing chemical synthesis of silk-mimetic polymers with desirable properties.

Filament Rigidity Vies with Mesh Size in Determining Anomalous Diffusion in Cytoskeleton

The diffusion of microscopic particles through the cell, important to processes such as viral infection, gene delivery, and vesicle transport, is largely controlled by the complex cytoskeletal network, comprised of semiflexible actin filaments and rigid microtubules, that pervades the cytoplasm. By varying the relative concentrations of actin and microtubules, the cytoskeleton can display a host of different structural and dynamic properties that, in turn, impact the diffusion of particles through the composite network. Here, we couple single-particle tracking with differential dynamic microscopy to characterize the transport of microsphere tracers diffusing through composite in vitro networks with varying ratios of actin and microtubules. We analyze multiple complementary metrics for anomalous transport to show that particles exhibit anomalous subdiffusion in all networks, which our data suggest arises from caging by networks. Further, subdiffusive characteristics are markedly more pronounced in actin-rich networks, which exhibit similarly more prominent viscoelastic properties compared to microtubule-rich composites. While the smaller mesh size of actin-rich composites compared to microtubule-rich composites plays an important role in these results, the rigidity of the filaments comprising the network also influences the anomalous characteristics that we observe. Our results suggest that as microtubules in our composites are replaced with actin filaments, the decreasing filament rigidity competes with increasing network connectivity to drive anomalous transport.

Temperature-responsive self-assembled nanostructures from lysine-based surfactants with high chain length asymmetry: from tubules and helical ribbons to micelles and vesicles

Stimuli-sensitive self-assembled nanostructures are of great relevance for the templating of nanomaterials and the design of efficient systems for the controlled delivery of molecules. Amino acid-based surfactants often display such fascinating self-assembly due to a combination of molecular features such as critical packing parameter, chirality and H-bonding interactions. Herein, we focus on a family of newly synthesized double-chained alkylcarboxylates derived from l-lysine, and designated by 8Lysn, mLys8, with n, m = 12, 14 and 16, and 12Lys16 and 16Lys12, where the numbers represent the number of C atoms in each hydrocarbon chain. The effects of the chain length asymmetry and structural isomerism of the surfactants on their interfacial properties, thermal behavior and self-assembly in water were investigated by a comprehensive toolbox, including surface tension, DSC, imaging (light microscopy, SEM, TEM and AFM) and SAXS. All the surfactants below their Krafft temperature self-organize into tubular structures of various morphologies (flat structures, twisted and coiled ribbons and hollow tubes), forming hydrogels at low surfactant concentration. Upon the solubilization phase transition, micelles or vesicles are formed depending on the surfactant structure, and the tubule-micelle or tubule-vesicle transition is thermoreversible. A molecular-level rationalization of the observed self-assembly and phase transition features is put forth.

α-Synuclein misfolding and aggregation: Implications in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) has been extensively studied for its structural and biophysical properties owing to its pathophysiological role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are the pathological hallmarks of PD and contain α-Syn aggregates as their major component. It was therefore hypothesized that α-Syn aggregation is actively associated with PD pathogenesis. The central role of α-Syn aggregation in PD is further supported by the identification of point mutations in α-Syn protein associated with rare familial forms of PD. However, the correlation between aggregation propensities of α-Syn mutants and their association with PD phenotype is not straightforward. Recent evidence suggested that oligomers, formed during the initial stages of aggregation, are the potent neurotoxic species causing cell death in PD. However, the heterogeneous and unstable nature of these oligomers limit their detailed characterization. α-Syn fibrils, on the contrary, are shown to be the infectious agents and propagate in a prion-like manner. Although α-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein, it exhibits remarkable conformational plasticity by adopting a range of structural conformations under different environmental conditions. In this review, we focus on the structural and functional aspects of α-Syn and role of potential factors that may contribute to the underlying mechanism of synucleinopathies. This information will help to identify novel targets and develop specific therapeutic strategies to combat Parkinson's and other protein aggregation related neurodegenerative diseases.

Gallic acid loaded PEO-core/zein-shell nanofibers for chemopreventive action on gallbladder cancer cells

Coaxial electrospinning was used to develop gallic acid (GA) loaded poly(ethylene oxide)/zein nanofibers in order to improve its chemopreventive action on human gallbladder cancer cells. Using a Plackett-Burman design, the effects of poly(ethylene oxide) and zein concentration and applied voltage on the diameter and morphology index of nanofibers were investigated. Coaxial nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). GA loading efficiency as high as 77% was obtained under optimal process conditions. The coaxial nanofibers controlled GA release in acid and neutral pH medium. Cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on gallbladder cancer cell lines GB-d1 and NOZ in the presence of GA-nanofibers were assessed. GA-nanofibers triggered an increase in the cellular cytotoxicity compared with free GA on GB-d1 and NOZ cells. Statistically significant differences were found in ROS levels of GA-nanofibers compared with free GA on NOZ cells. Differently, ROS production on GB-d1 cell line was similar. Based on these results, the coaxial nanofibers obtained in this study under optimized operational conditions offer an alternative for the development of a GA release system with improved chemopreventive action on gallbladder cancer cells.

Protein Handshake on the Nanoscale: How Albumin and Hemoglobin Self-Assemble into Nanohybrid Fibers

Creating and establishing proof of hybrid protein nanofibers (hPNFs), i.e., PNFs that contain more than one protein, is a currently unsolved challenge in bioinspired materials science. Such hPNFs could serve as universal building blocks for the bottom-up preparation of functional materials with bespoke properties. Here, inspired by the protein assemblies occurring in nature, we introduce hPNFs created via a facile self-assembly route and composed of human serum albumin (HSA) and human hemoglobin (HGB) proteins. Our circular dichroism results shed light on the mechanism of the proteins' self-assembly into hybrid nanofibers, which is driven by electrostatic/hydrophobic interactions between similar amino acid sequences (protein handshake) exposed to ethanol-triggered protein denaturation. Based on nanoscale characterization with tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and immunogold labeling, our results demonstrate the existence and heterogenic nature of the hPNFs and reveal the high HSA/HGB composition ratio, which is attributed to the fast self-assembling kinetics of HSA. The self-assembled hPNFs with a high aspect ratio of over 100 can potentially serve as biocompatible units to create larger bioactive structures, devices, and sensors.

Transition Metal Ions Enable the Transition from Electrospun Prolamin Protein Fibers to Nitrogen-Doped Freestanding Carbon Films for Flexible Supercapacitors

Flexible carbon ultrafine fibers are highly desirable in energy storage and conversion devices. Our previous finding showed that electrospun hordein/zein fibers stabilized by Ca²⁺ were successfully transferred into nitrogen-doped carbon ultrafine fibers for supercapacitors. However, their relatively brittle nature needed to be improved. Inspired by this stabilizing effect of Ca²⁺, in this work, four transition metal divalent cations were used to assist the formation of flexible hordein/zein-derived carbon ultrafine fibers. Without alteration of the electrospinnability, adequate amounts of zinc acetate and cobalt acetate supported the fibrous structure during pyrolysis. This resulted in flexible freestanding carbon films consisting of well-defined fibers with nitrogen-doped graphitic layers and hierarchical pores. These carbon films were easily cut into small square pieces and directly applied as working electrode in the three-electrode testing system without the need for polymer binders or conducting agents. Notably, the hz-Zn0.3-p electrode, synthesized with 0.3 mol/L Zn²⁺ and post-acid treatment, exhibited a specific capacitance of 393 F/g (at 1 A/g), a large rate capability (72.3% remained at 20 A/g), and a capacitance retention of ∼98% after 2000 charging-discharging cycles at 10 A/g. These superior electrochemical properties were attributed to the synergistic effects of the well-developed graphitic layers induced by Zn²⁺, the nitrogen-decorated carbon structure, and the interconnected channels generated by HCl treatment. This research advances potential applications for prolamin proteins as nitrogen-containing raw materials in developing carbon structures for high-performance supercapacitors.

Microbial production of amino acid-modified spider dragline silk protein with intensively improved mechanical properties

Spider dragline silk is a remarkably strong fiber with impressive mechanical properties, which were thought to result from the specific structures of the underlying proteins and their molecular size. In this study, silk protein 11R26 from the dragline silk protein of Nephila clavipes was used to analyze the potential effects of the special amino acids on the function of 11R26. Three protein derivatives, ZF4, ZF5, and ZF6, were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis, based on the sequence of 11R26, and among these derivatives, serine was replaced with cysteine, isoleucine, and arginine, respectively. After these were expressed and purified, the mechanical performance of the fibers derived from the four proteins was tested. Both hardness and average elastic modulus of ZF4 fiber increased 2.2 times compared with those of 11R26. The number of disulfide bonds in ZF4 protein was 4.67 times that of 11R26, which implied that disulfide bonds outside the poly-Ala region affect the mechanical properties of spider silk more efficiently. The results indicated that the mechanical performances of spider silk proteins with small molecular size can be enhanced by modification of the amino acids residues. Our research not only has shown the feasibility of large-scale production of spider silk proteins but also provides valuable information for protein rational design.

Electrospun protein nanofibers in healthcare: A review

Electrospun nanofibers are being utilized for a wide range of healthcare applications. A plethora of natural and synthetic polymers are exploited for their ability to be electrospun and replace the complex habitat provided by the extracellular matrix for the cells. The fabrication of nanofibers can be tuned to act as a multicarrier system to deliver drugs, growth factors and health supplements etc. in a sustained manner. Owing to its pliability, nanofibers reached its heights in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. This review mainly focuses on various standardized parameters and optimized blending ratios for animal and plant proteins to yield fine, continuous nanofibers for effective utilization in various healthcare applications.

Biomolecular Evidence of Silk from 8,500 Years Ago

Pottery, bone implements, and stone tools are routinely found at Neolithic sites. However, the integrity of textiles or silk is susceptible to degradation, and it is therefore very difficult for such materials to be preserved for 8,000 years. Although previous studies have provided important evidence of the emergence of weaving skills and tools, such as figuline spinning wheels and osseous lamellas with traces of filament winding, there is a lack of direct evidence proving the existence of silk. In this paper, we explored evidence of prehistoric silk fibroin through the analysis of soil samples collected from three tombs at the Neolithic site of Jiahu. Mass spectrometry was employed and integrated with proteomics to characterize the key peptides of silk fibroin. The direct biomolecular evidence reported here showed the existence of prehistoric silk fibroin, which was found in 8,500-year-old tombs. Rough weaving tools and bone needles were also excavated, indicating the possibility that the Jiahu residents may possess the basic weaving and sewing skills in making textile. This finding may advance the study of the history of silk, and the civilization of the Neolithic Age.

Hydrogels of Superlong Helices to Synthesize Hybrid Ag-Helical Nanomaterials

The gelation behavior of mixtures of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) and glutathione (GSH) in water is investigated. The system exhibits a structural transition of self-assembled hydrogels from nanofibers to nanohelix structures, and then to helical ribbons with increasing GSH concentration. Superlong helical nanofibers with left- and right-handed orientations are produced by tuning the concentration of GSH at a fixed concentration of NaDC. Random coil and β-sheet structures are significant for the formation of the helical structures, and are indicated by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The mechanical strength of the "weak" hydrogels is enhanced by the introduction of appropriate suitable amount of AgNO₃. Furthermore, the controlled growth of Ag nanoparticles at spatially arranged locations along the nanohelices (hybrid Ag-helical nanomaterial) is readily achieved by UV reduction of Ag (I) ions on the supramolecular helical templates.

Microfluidics-Produced Collagen Fibers Show Extraordinary Mechanical Properties

Collagens are widely used as biomaterials in drug-delivery and tissue engineering applications due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility and hypoallergenicity. Besides gelatin-based materials, collagen microfibers are in the focus of biomedical research. Commonly, man-made fibers are produced by wet-spinning yielding fiber diameters higher than 8 μm. Here, assembly and continuous production of single collagen type I microfibers were established using a microfluidic chip. Microfluidics-produced microfibers exhibited tensile strength and Young's modulus exceeding that of fibers produced in classical wet-spinning devices and even that of natural tendon and they showed lower diameters. Their structural orientation was examined by polarized Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showing fibril alignment within the microfiber. Cell culture tests using the neuronal cell line NG108-15 showed cell alignment and axon growth along the microfiber axes inaugurating potential applications in, for example, peripheral nerve repair.

Template-assisted extrusion of biopolymer nanofibers under physiological conditions

Biomedical applications ranging from tissue engineering to drug delivery systems require versatile biomaterials based on the scalable and tunable production of biopolymer nanofibers under physiological conditions.

Reconstituted Keratin Biomaterial with Enhanced Ductility

Nowadays the waste from protein fibres represents an important renewable source for a new generation of biomaterials and promising competitors for carbohydrate based biomaterials. Regenerated keratin biomaterials are biodegradable in vivo and in vitro, biocompatible, and support cell attachment and proliferation; however, their major drawback has been their weak mechanical properties such as ductility. The following study was conducted in an attempt to improve the ductility of reconstituted keratin films obtained from Australian merino wool fibres. Keratin was extracted from wool fibres according to an established protocol proposed by Yamauchi, and then dialyzed and desalted by multiple diafiltration wash cycles. The resulting keratin film was transparent, biodegradable, and, opposite to its predecessors, mechanically durable, possessing a Young modulus about 12.5 MPa with 35% extensibility. The polypeptide chains were found to rearrange themselves in the β-sheet state in this keratin film, which was shown to be semi-crystalline. This film, unlike its predecessors, did not support human cell proliferation. These properties of the diafiltered keratin film have led us to think that diafiltration resulted in producing a totally new keratin film, which is envisaged to find applications in various areas.

Nanopore Diameters Tune Strain in Extruded Fibronectin Fibers

Fibronectin is present in the extracellular matrix and can be assembled into nanofibers in vivo by undergoing conformational changes. Here, we present a novel approach to prepare fibronectin nanofibers under physiological conditions using an extrusion approach through nanoporous aluminum oxide membranes. This one-step process can prepare nanofiber bundles up to a millimeter in length and with uniform fiber diameters in the nanometer range. Most importantly, by using different pore diameters and protein concentrations in the extrusion process, we could induce varying lasting structural changes in the fibers, which were monitored by Förster resonance energy transfer and should impose different physiological functions.

Different Types of Peptide Detected by Mass Spectrometry among Fresh Silk and Archaeological Silk Remains for Distinguishing Modern Contamination

Archaeological silk provides abundant information for studying ancient technologies and cultures. However, due to the spontaneous degradation and the damages from burial conditions, most ancient silk fibers which suffered the damages for thousands of years were turned into invisible molecular residues. For the obtained rare samples, extra care needs to be taken to accurately identify the genuine archaeological silk remains from modern contaminations. Although mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful tool for identifying and analyzing the ancient protein residues, the traditional approach could not directly determine the dating and contamination of each sample. In this paper, a series of samples with a broad range of ages were tested by MS to find an effective and innovative approach to determine whether modern contamination exists, in order to verify the authenticity and reliability of the ancient samples. The new findings highlighted that the detected peptide types of the fibroin light chain can indicate the degradation levels of silk samples and help to distinguish contamination from ancient silk remains.

“Biosteel”: an exciting product from nature that is superior to many manmade alternatives

Biotechnology continues to offer routes for many exciting and unique products. Researchers genetically altered goats with a spider gene. These goats produce milk that contains a protein that can be extracted to produce biosteel fibers for use in bulletproof vests. It is referred to as “biosteel” to highlight its strength comparable to steel. This review paper describes the important aspects of produced dragline spider silk proteins via cell culture techniques using silk genes derived from two species of weaving spiders. These fibers were tested for a number of mechanical properties and compared to natural spider silk. In effect, fibers of biosteel were able to absorb similar amounts of energy as natural spider silk by stretching further. As opposed to most other synthetic fibers, biosteel is ecofriendly both in terms of its composition and production process.

The Use of the Calcitonin Minimal Recognition Module for the Design of DOPA-Containing Fibrillar Assemblies

Amyloid deposits are insoluble fibrous protein aggregates, identified in numerous diseases, which self-assemble through molecular recognition. This process is facilitated by short amino acid sequences, identified as minimal modules. Peptides corresponding to these motifs can be used for the formation of amyloid-like fibrillar assemblies in vitro. Such assemblies hold broad appeal in nanobiotechnology due to their ordered structure and to their ability to be functionalized. The catechol functional group, present in the non-coded L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) amino acid, can take part in diverse chemical interactions. Moreover, DOPA-incorporated polymers have demonstrated adhesive properties and redox activity. In this work, amyloid-like fibrillar assemblies were formed through the self-assembly of a pentapeptide containing DOPA residues, Asp-DOPA-Asn-Lys-DOPA. The design of this peptide was based on the minimal amyloidogenic recognition motif of the human calcitonin hormone, Asp-Phe-Asn-Lys-Phe, the first amyloidogenic pentapeptide identified. By substituting phenylalanine with DOPA, we obtained DOPA-functionalized amyloid-like assemblies in water. Electron microscopy revealed elongated, linear fibril-like nanometric assemblies. Secondary structure analysis indicated the presence of amyloid-characteristic β-sheet structures as well as random coil structures. Deposition of silver on the DOPA-incorporated assemblies suggested redox activity and demonstrated the applicative potential of this novel nanobiomaterial.

Electrostatic Assembly of Peptide Nanofiber-Biomimetic Silver Nanowires onto Graphene for Electrochemical Sensors

Biomacromolecules and their assemblies have the unique ability for biomimetic promotion of the formation of novel and functional nanomaterials. In this work, artificial peptide nanofibers were created with a special designed peptide molecule that contains complex motif sequences and then further metallized to synthesize nanofiber-based silver nanowires. A novel hybrid nanomaterial was obtained successfully by assembling the prepared silver nanowires on graphene nanosheets, and its potential application in nonenzymatic electrochemical H₂O₂ sensing was explored. This fabricated sensor based on graphene and silver nanowires exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity, low detection limit, and wide linear range for the determination of H₂O₂.

Nanomaterial building blocks based on spider silk-oligonucleotide conjugates

Self-assembling protein nanofibrils are promising structures for the "bottom-up" fabrication of bionanomaterials. Here, the recombinant protein eADF4(C16), a variant of Araneus diadematus dragline silk ADF4, which self-assembles into nanofibrils, and short oligonucleotides were modified for site-specific azide-alkyne coupling. Corresponding oligonuleotide-eADF4(C16) "click" conjugates were hybridized in linear or branched fashion according to the designed complementarities of the DNA moieties. Self-assembly properties of higher ordered structures of the spider silk-DNA conjugates were dominated by the silk component. Assembled β-sheet rich conjugate fibrils were similar in appearance to fibrils of unmodified eADF4(C16) but enabled the specific attachment of neutravidin-modified gold nanoparticles on their surface directed by complementary biotin-oligonucleotides, providing the basis for functionalization of such conjugates.

Cellulose nanowhiskers and fiber alignment greatly improve mechanical properties of electrospun prolamin protein fibers

Electrospun fibers from natural polymers must possess appropriate mechanical properties if they are to be functional in numerous applications. In this research, two convenient physical approaches were applied to reinforce the assembled hordein/zein electrospun nanofabrics: incorporation of surface-modified cellulose nanowhiskers (SCN) and fiber alignment. The mechanical properties and stability of the modified fibers were tested in relation to fiber morphology and structure as characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. SCN modified by quaternary ammonium salt were well-dispersed in hordein/zein networks, leading to fibers with significantly improved mechanical properties and water resistance. With the addition of 3 wt % SCN, the tensile strength and Young's modulus of hordein/zein fibers increased from 4.36 ± 0.29 to 7.79 ± 0.36 MPa and from 195.80 ± 13.02 to 396.64 ± 18.33 MPa, respectively, and the elongation at break was retained because of the formation of a percolating network of SCN. The alignment of electrospun fibers strengthened the hordein/zein nanofabrics in both tangential and normal directions to 17.26 ± 1.41 and 14.02 ± 0.74 MPa, respectively, by not only altering the piling up pattern, but also by promoting phase separation and improved interactions. When applying both of the reinforcing methods, the tensile strength of hordein/zein fibers was further enhanced to 21.99 ± 1.19 MPa, stronger than that of cancellous bones (5-10 MPa). All the reinforced fibers exhibited a reduced burst effect in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) while releasing the incorporated bioactive molecule in a controlled manner. These physically reinforced prolamin protein fibers possessed significantly improved mechanical properties and may have potential to be used as tissue engineering scaffold materials or natural delivery systems for biomedical applications.

Multivalent protein assembly using monovalent self-assembling building blocks

Discotic molecules, which self-assemble in water into columnar supramolecular polymers, emerged as an alternative platform for the organization of proteins. Here, a monovalent discotic decorated with one single biotin was synthesized to study the self-assembling multivalency of this system in regard to streptavidin. Next to tetravalent streptavidin, monovalent streptavidin was used to study the protein assembly along the supramolecular polymer in detail without the interference of cross-linking. Upon self-assembly of the monovalent biotinylated discotics, multivalent proteins can be assembled along the supramolecular polymer. The concentration of discotics, which influences the length of the final polymers at the same time dictates the amount of assembled proteins.