Abstract
Native silk fibroin (NSF) is a unique biomaterial with extraordinary mechanical and biochemical properties. These key characteristics are directly associated with the physical transformation of unstructured, soluble NSF into highly organized nano- and microscale fibrils rich in β-sheet content. Here, it is shown that this NSF fibrillation process is accompanied by the development of intrinsic fluorescence in the visible range, upon near-UV excitation, a phenomenon that has not been investigated in detail to date. Here, the optical and fluorescence characteristics of NSF fibrils are probed and a route for potential applications in the field of self-assembled optically active biomaterials and systems is explored. In particular, it is demonstrated that NSF can be structured into autofluorescent microcapsules with a controllable level of β-sheet content and fluorescence properties. Furthermore, a facile and efficient fabrication route that permits arbitrary patterns of NSF microcapsules to be deposited on substrates under ambient conditions is shown. The resulting fluorescent NSF patterns display a high level of photostability. These results demonstrate the potential of using native silk as a new class of biocompatible photonic material.
Highlights
These studies have shown that the molecular architecture of fibrous silk assemblies and the associatedAmong all fibrous proteins, native silk fibroin (NSF) has irreversible aggregation processes are similar to those found attracted special attention due to its unique properties including for highly ordered amyloid fibrils.[12,13,14] As functional materials, mechanical strength, elasticity, and biocompatibility.[1,2] Silk silk fibroin (SF) fibers are of particular interest because of theirDr K
Native silk fibroin (NSF) has irreversible aggregation processes are similar to those found attracted special attention due to its unique properties including for highly ordered amyloid fibrils.[12,13,14]
This allows the aggregation process to be monitored by utilizing the intrinsic fluorescence of NSF fibrils
Summary
Native silk fibroin (NSF) has irreversible aggregation processes are similar to those found attracted special attention due to its unique properties including for highly ordered amyloid fibrils.[12,13,14] As functional materials, mechanical strength, elasticity, and biocompatibility.[1,2] Silk silk fibroin (SF) fibers are of particular interest because of their. We show that aggregation of native silk produces a material with remarkably strong and stable fluorescence characteristics. These features could inspire the generation of novel photonic structures derived from natural materials. We show that structuring NSF, contained in microcapsules and subjected to differential microfluidic shear forces, leverages the fluorescence properties of the material and creates a platform for the controlled structuring of aggregation-prone protein materials in general.[23]
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