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Borisova AS, Virkkala T, Pylkkänen R, Kellock M, Mohammadi P. Toughening brittle kraft lignin coating on mismatched substrate with spider Silk-Inspired protein as an interfacial modulator. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 655:789-799. [PMID: 37976752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.11.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Current production of functional coatings majorly relies on petrochemical formulations. While they have provided substantial benefits, their fabrication processes as well as their disposal created widespread ecological catastrophes. Thus, there is a pressing demand and calls for a radical transformation to develop sustainable solutions by using renewable building blocks. Herein, we report on a novel coating formulation by combining largely undervalued kraft lignin from the forest industry, with genetically engineered and recombinantly produced spider silk-inspired protein through the industrial biotechnology platform. Unmodified kraft lignin was used as the main bulk component in the coating given its abundance and low cost. The nanometer-thin spider silk-inspired protein (SSIP) was used as a primary layer exhibiting dual functionalities: (i) modulating the mechanical properties of inherently brittle kraft lignin, (ii) substantially increasing the interfacial binding of kraft lignin to the underlying rigid silica substrate with the mismatched physicochemical properties. Our findings demonstrate how synergistic interplay components could result in scalable and durable functional coatings which could potentially be used in various medical and industrial applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S Borisova
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT, Finland.
| | - Tuuli Virkkala
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
| | - Robert Pylkkänen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT, Finland; Centre of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Miriam Kellock
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, FI-02044 VTT, Finland; Centre of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland.
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Välisalmi T, Roas-Escalona N, Meinander K, Mohammadi P, Linder MB. Highly Hydrophobic Films of Engineered Silk Proteins by a Simple Deposition Method. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:4370-4381. [PMID: 36926896 PMCID: PMC10061925 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Molecular engineering of protein structures offers a uniquely versatile route for novel functionalities in materials. Here, we describe a method to form highly hydrophobic thin films using genetically engineered spider silk proteins. We used structurally engineered protein variants containing ADF3 and AQ12 spider silk sequences. Wetting properties were studied using static and dynamic contact angle measurements. Solution conditions and the surrounding humidity during film preparation were key parameters to obtain high hydrophobicity, as shown by contact angles in excess of 120°. Although the surface layer was highly hydrophobic, its structure was disrupted by the added water droplets. Crystal-like structures were found at the spots where water droplets had been placed. To understand the mechanism of film formation, different variants of the proteins, the topography of the films, and secondary structures of the protein components were studied. The high contact angle in the films demonstrates that the conformations that silk proteins take in the protein layer very efficiently expose their hydrophobic segments. This work reveals a highly amphiphilic nature of silk proteins and contributes to an understanding of their assembly mechanisms. It will also help in designing diverse technical uses for recombinant silk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teemu Välisalmi
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Centre
of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Post Office Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Nelmary Roas-Escalona
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Centre
of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Post Office Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Kristoffer Meinander
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Centre
of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Post Office Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Limited (VTT), FI-02044 Espoo, Finland
- Centre
of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Post Office Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Markus B. Linder
- Department
of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Centre
of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, Post Office Box 16100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
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3
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Miserez A, Yu J, Mohammadi P. Protein-Based Biological Materials: Molecular Design and Artificial Production. Chem Rev 2023; 123:2049-2111. [PMID: 36692900 PMCID: PMC9999432 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric materials produced from fossil fuels have been intimately linked to the development of industrial activities in the 20th century and, consequently, to the transformation of our way of living. While this has brought many benefits, the fabrication and disposal of these materials is bringing enormous sustainable challenges. Thus, materials that are produced in a more sustainable fashion and whose degradation products are harmless to the environment are urgently needed. Natural biopolymers─which can compete with and sometimes surpass the performance of synthetic polymers─provide a great source of inspiration. They are made of natural chemicals, under benign environmental conditions, and their degradation products are harmless. Before these materials can be synthetically replicated, it is essential to elucidate their chemical design and biofabrication. For protein-based materials, this means obtaining the complete sequences of the proteinaceous building blocks, a task that historically took decades of research. Thus, we start this review with a historical perspective on early efforts to obtain the primary sequences of load-bearing proteins, followed by the latest developments in sequencing and proteomic technologies that have greatly accelerated sequencing of extracellular proteins. Next, four main classes of protein materials are presented, namely fibrous materials, bioelastomers exhibiting high reversible deformability, hard bulk materials, and biological adhesives. In each class, we focus on the design at the primary and secondary structure levels and discuss their interplays with the mechanical response. We finally discuss earlier and the latest research to artificially produce protein-based materials using biotechnology and synthetic biology, including current developments by start-up companies to scale-up the production of proteinaceous materials in an economically viable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Miserez
- Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore637553.,School of Biological Sciences, NTU, Singapore637551
| | - Jing Yu
- Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore637553.,Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS), NTU, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore637553
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, UusimaaFI-02044, Finland
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4
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Pylkkänen R, Werner D, Bishoyi A, Weil D, Scoppola E, Wagermaier W, Safeer A, Bahri S, Baldus M, Paananen A, Penttilä M, Szilvay GR, Mohammadi P. The complex structure of Fomes fomentarius represents an architectural design for high-performance ultralightweight materials. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade5417. [PMID: 36812306 PMCID: PMC9946349 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
High strength, hardness, and fracture toughness are mechanical properties that are not commonly associated with the fleshy body of a fungus. Here, we show with detailed structural, chemical, and mechanical characterization that Fomes fomentarius is an exception, and its architectural design is a source of inspiration for an emerging class of ultralightweight high-performance materials. Our findings reveal that F. fomentarius is a functionally graded material with three distinct layers that undergo multiscale hierarchical self-assembly. Mycelium is the primary component in all layers. However, in each layer, mycelium exhibits a very distinct microstructure with unique preferential orientation, aspect ratio, density, and branch length. We also show that an extracellular matrix acts as a reinforcing adhesive that differs in each layer in terms of quantity, polymeric content, and interconnectivity. These findings demonstrate how the synergistic interplay of the aforementioned features results in distinct mechanical properties for each layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Pylkkänen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Daniel Werner
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Ajit Bishoyi
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Dominik Weil
- KLA-Tencor GmbH, Moritzburger Weg 67, Dresden 01109, Germany
| | - Ernesto Scoppola
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wagermaier
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Adil Safeer
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Salima Bahri
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marc Baldus
- NMR Spectroscopy, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Arja Paananen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
| | - Merja Penttilä
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Géza R. Szilvay
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
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5
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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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