Detection of proteinaceous binders in ancient Chinese textiles by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

The use of binding materials in ancient Chinese textiles was widely practiced to enhance both the bond strength and the cohesion between fibers. An accurate qualitative assessment of such binding materials is of great significance in heritage research and conservation science: first, to understand the historical development of the textile industry and, second, to choose a suitable conservation method. However, this problem has not been fully addressed due to the complexity of the binder composition and the limitations of traditional analytical methods. This study focused on the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the specific identification of proteins in archaeological binder materials. Four ancient Chinese textile binder samples were tested by ELISA. The results showed that all the binder samples reacted positive for ovalbumin, while two printing gold samples reacted negative for collagen-I. This is the first time ELISA has been successfully used to detect protein in ancient Chinese textile samples. With its advantages of sensitivity, low cost, and speed, the ELISA technique becomes the perfect tool for protein detection in Chinese heritage research.