Silk Research Articles

Transcriptome Changes Reveal the Toxic Mechanism of Cadmium and Lead Combined Exposure on Silk Production and Web-Weaving Behavior of Spider A. ventricosus.

The combined exposure of multiple metals imposes a substantial burden on the ecophysiological functions in organisms; however, the precise mechanism(s) remains largely unknown. Here, adult female A. ventricosus were exposed to single and combined exposure to cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) through the food chain. The aim was to explore the combined toxicity of these metals on silk production and web-weaving behavior at physiological, cellular morphological, and transcriptomic levels. The Cd and Pb combined exposure significantly inhibited the ability of silk production and web-weaving, including reduced silk fiber weight and diameter of single strands, lowered weaving position, induced nocturnal weaving, and increased instances of no-web, and showed a dose-response relationship on the Cd and Pb bioaccumulation. Concurrently, severe oxidative stress and degenerative changes in cells were observed. In addition, the combined pollution of Cd and Pb demonstrated synergistic effects, influenced by variations in concentration, on the enrichment of metals, inhibition of silk weight, oxidative damage, and cellular degeneration. At the transcriptome level, the upregulated ampullate spidroin genes and downregulated amino acid anabolic genes, upregulated Far genes and downregulated cytoskeleton-related TUBA genes, and overexpressed AChE and Glu genes may tend to present promising potential as biomarkers for silk protein synthesis, cellular degeneration, and neurotransmitter induction. This study offers an enormous capability for a comprehensive understanding of the eco-toxicological effects and mechanisms of multiheavy metals pollution.

Highly strong and tough silk by feeding silkworms with rare earth ion-modified diets

Nature-derived silk fibers possess excellent biocompatibility, sustainability, and mechanical properties, yet producing strong and tough silk fibers in a facile and large-scale manner remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a simple method for preparing strong and tough silk fibers by feeding silkworms rare earth ion-modified diets. The resulting silk fibers exhibit significantly increased tensile strength and toughness, with average values of 0.85 ± 0.07 GPa and 156 ± 13 MJ m−3, respectively, and maximum values of 0.97 ± 0.04 GPa and 188 ± 19 MJ m−3, approaching those of spider dragline silk. Our findings suggest that the incorporation of rare earth ions (La3+ or Eu3+) into the silk fibers contributes to this enhancement. Structure analysis reveals a reduction in content and an improvement in orientation of β-sheet nanocrystals in silk fibers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirms the chemical interaction between rare earth ions with β-sheet nanocrystals. The structural evolution and chemical interactions lead to the simultaneous enhancement in both strength and toughness. This work presents a simple, scalable, and effective strategy for producing ultra-strong and tough silk fibers with potential applications in areas requiring super structural materials, such as personal protection and aerospace.

Sustainable dyeing of mulberry silk fabric using extracts of green tea (Camellia sinensis): Extraction, mordanting, dyed silk fabric properties and silk-dye interaction mechanism

Sustainability and environmental awareness had an impulse in increasing the global interest to utilize the industrial crops for producing new colouring shades in place of hazardous synthetic dyes. The present research focuses on extracting functional components from green tea (Camelia sinensis) leaves using water and methanol/water solvent systems and their application in the mordant dyeing of mulberry silk fabrics. The effect of pH was studied to maximize the yield of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant properties of the solvent extracts. Compared to the unmordanted dyed silk, the mordant dyeing of silk with tea extracts at a temperature of 80 ℃ for 45 min resulted in significant improvements in various color properties. These enhancements include the shade, color strength (K/S), color coordinates, and fastness properties of the dyed silk fabric. Mordant dyeing of silk fabric enhanced UV protection and antimicrobial activities as well. The bonding properties of tea polyphenols on silk was well demonstrated with the help of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To establish the mechanism of dyeing, catechin was used as a standard and mordant dyeing in silk, resulting in similar golden-yellow coloration. It shows identical properties with the silk dyed with tea extracts resulting in the fact that catechins are the responsible components in silk dyeing while using tea extracts. Theoretical interaction energy (Einteraction = −13.836 kJ/mol) calculation established good stability of mordanted catechin dyeing on silk, and catechin stability in different solvents were in the order catechin-water > catechin-methanol > catechin-ethanol. This work suggests that the mulberry silk fabrics dyed with green tea extract showed diverse color variations, which is highly promising to be used as a natural dye in the textile industry.

Possible mechanism for explaining the concretion of unearthed silk fabrics

This work studied the concretion components of ancient silk fabrics unearthed from Nanjing, China. Based on the analysis of the components, mechanism of concretion of the silk fabrics were proposed. Physical, chemical, and biological factors were considered as possible reasons for the concretion of ancient silk fabrics. Mechanical extrusion or falling, crystal bonding, Van der walls forces, hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, and ionic bonding are purposed as possible influences and/or interactions between the concretion components and silk fabrics. The concretion mechanism, which includes common mineralization nucleation, re-crystallization, bio-mineralization nucleation and crystallization are discussed separately. Mineralization nucleation and crystallization have a great influence on the aging, hardening (even rotting), and final concreting of buried silk fabrics. Possible processing models were established according to the results obtained. This study presents new viewpoints to understand the concretion of unearthed silk fabrics, which could provide theoretical evidence for the unfolding of concreted silk fabrics, especially those fragile, even rotten ones.

Degumming effects of silk fabrics as piezoelectrics for nanogenerators

This study evaluated the suitability of silk fabric as a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG). A PENG with excellent mechanical and electrical properties as well as biocompatibility was fabricated using silk. Silk fibers are composed of sericin and fibroin, and effect of sericin on the piezoelectric properties was evaluated. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared analyses showed that the presence of sericin reduced the piezoelectricity, and its removal (degumming) improved the electrical output characteristics of the specimens. The device output performance exhibited a positive dependence on pressure conditions, such as the load and pushing frequency. The generators prepared from specimens before and after degumming showed power densities of 0.43 and 1.52 μW/cm2, respectively, at an applied stress of 110 N. The electrical properties of the fabricated silk PENG were stable even after 10,000 cycles. Silk-fabric PENGs can be fabricated as low-cost, high-output devices without additional processes, such as electrospinning or coating, and they show significant potential for application in biosensors, medical sensors, and implantable medical devices.

Effect of cocooning conditions on the structure, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of silks.

The stable isotope technique provides the possibility to trace ancient textiles because the technique is associated with advantages such as trace indication, fast detection, and accurate results. Since different cocooning conditions may impact cocoons even under identical habitats, it is important to investigate the effects of different cocooning temperatures and humidity on the isotope incorporation values in the cocoons. In this study, silk fibers were reeled under different conditions of temperature and humidity, followed by analysis of the secondary structure of cocoon proteins and isotope incorporation patterns. We found that the deviations in carbon isotope values of silk under different cocooning conditions could reach up to 0.76‰, while the deviation in carbon isotope values at different locations of a single silk was 2.75‰. Further, during the cocooning process, depletion of the 13C-isotope at different locations of the silk fibers was observed, reducing the δ13C values. We proposed that the changes in carbon isotopes in silk were related to the content of sericin and silk fibroin in silk. Finally, we did not observe a significant difference in isotope ratios in degummed cocoons. In summary, the 13C isotope was enriched in sericin, whereas 15N was enriched in fibroin, and these findings provide basic information for tracing the provenance of silks.

A Study on the Preservation Treatment of Gold-Leafed Clothing Artefacts Excavated from a Tomb of the Cheongsong Shim Clan - Focusing on Bugeum Wonsam and Jikgeum Chima (Skirt) -

The purpose of this study is to perform a non-destructive material analysis and conservation treatments on two gold-leafed clothing artefacts (Bugeum Wonsam and Jikgeum Chima (Skirt)) excavated from a tomb of the Cheongsong Shim Clan held by the Chungbuk National University Museum. The artefacts, which were excavated in April 2003, had been stored in storage and were found to be wrinkled, contaminated, hardened and dried. The preservation treatment of the artefacts was performed by means of material analysis and repair. The analysis of the material using scanning electron microscopy SEM, FT-IR, colorimetric and XRF analyses showed that the material is silk fiber, and the analysis of the gold leaf layer using XRF showed that the gold leaf is gold (Au). The preservation treatment was performed by investigating the condition of the artefacts and conducting preliminary experiments on the reinforcing agents. For the reinforcement treatment, a 10% reinforcing agent of cow glue was applied to protect the gold leaf layer to prevent flaking of the gold leaf layer during wet cleaning, and a 2% reinforcing agent was applied after repair . For wet cleaning, a natural cleaning liquid mixed with cypress extract was used at a concentration of 1.0%. For wet cleaning, a natural cleaning solution mixed with Oriental arborvitae extract was used at a concentration of 1.0%. After cleaning, the artefacts were reinforced and repaired to restore their original shapes, completing the preservation treatment including packaging and storage.

High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms

High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms

Characteristics Of Attacus atlas Cocon Collected from Tree of Mahoghony (Swietenia mahagoni) in Kembaran District

Attacus atlas is a wild silk type from the non-mulberry group, representing various fagara silkworms that produce cocoons. The produced cocoons have high economic value when utilized for commercial silk production. The distinctive characteristic of A. atlas silk fibers differs from Bombyx mori (mulberry) silk as the resulting fibers have a natural brown color without dyeing processes. The characteristics of cocoons significantly impact the resulting thread production. This study aims to obtain data on the characteristics and morphometrics of A. atlas cocoons located on mahogany trees providing road shade in Kembaran District. Observed characteristics include the weight of the intact cocoon skin, the weight of cocoon skin without floss, the weight of floss, cocoon diameter, cocoon circumference, cocoon length, and cocoon color. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive analysis. The research shows that A.atlas cocoon skin characteristics vary greatly, demonstrated by the weight of the intact Cocoon Skin (0.66-2.35 g), the weight of Cocoon Skin without Floss (0.46-1.93 g), the weight of Floss (0.1-0.54 g), Cocoon Length (5.2-8.1 cm), Anterior Diameter (2.10-3.0 cm), Medial Diameter (2.30-3.4 cm), Posterior Diameter (2.20-3.1 cm), Anterior Circumference (6.20-9.50 cm), Medial Circumference (7.70-10.50 cm), Posterior Circumference (6.10-9.10 cm), and cocoon color classification into light (17 cocoons/15.9%), medium (66 cocoons/61.7%), and dark (24 cocoons/22.4%). The temperature, cocooning location, and gender of the cocoon are unknown, resulting in weight and morphometric value variations.

Research Progress on Spider‐Inspired Tough Fibers†

Comprehensive SummarySpider silk has attracted increasing attention due to its fascinating combination of ultra‐high tenacity high strength, and excellent elasticity. Based on the fundamental biological studies on spider silk, significant research efforts have been devoted to biotechnology and chemical synthesis to mimic or even exceed the properties of natural spider silk fibers. Moreover, the natural spider silk fiber has been simulated with the burgeoning development of numerous spinning technologies, including wet spinning, dry spinning, electrostatic spinning, and microfluidic spinning, which continuously help to optimize the properties of synthetic spider silk. The unique characteristics of natural spider silk include high refraction transmission, heat resistance, antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility, and super shrinking. Biconical recreation of spider silk with special features and extraordinary capabilities demonstrates potential applications in biomedicine, smart wearables, artificial muscles and sensors, aerospace and other domains.

Effect of spatial structure and aggregation state of silk fibers in fabric on strain sensing performance and mechanism

Silk has attracted attention in the development of fabric-based sensors due to its structural controllability including fabrics, yarns, fibers, etc. Among them, the distribution of fibers in the yarn has a decisive effect on the conductive network. In this work, the characteristics and performance of four carbonized silk fabric-based strain sensors by adjusting the twist of the yarn were systematically characterized. On this basis, the fabric strain fracture process was explored in depth using optical electron microscopy, structural evolution simulation and finite element analysis to research the sensing mechanisms. The results indicated that the fabric sensors composed of twisted yarns had better sensitivity (GF of 6.3) and high linearity over a wide range of strains (0.996 under 0–300 %). In addition, the sensor had the advantages of fast response time (110 ms), and high durability (5000 cycles under multi-model strains). The sensors were also able to fulfill stable and sensitive responses under torsional and bending strains. Finally, a smart sports suit was developed based on this flexible strain sensor, which provided real-time collaborative feedback on movement and physiological signals in air and underwater. Undoubtedly, this smart amphibious sports suit has broad application prospects and values for wearable electronic devices.

Evaluation of Bending Length, Rigidity and Modulus of Woven and Knitted Fabrics

Performance evaluation of textile materials is necessary to determine the use of an end-product. Woven and knitted materials are the most preferred manufacturing techniques due to their certain characteristics suitable for apparel and upholstery. The present study aims at determining the bending length, rigidity and modulus of fabrics through standardized test procedures to measure the draping behaviour of an end product. The results identified the phenomenon that specimens manufactured with woven fabrics were better in drapability compared with knitted fabrics. Moreover, it was identified that type of fiber also plays an important role in determining the stiffness of fabrics such as silk fiber showed excellent results. A comprehensive comparison was made between various types of fabrics. The study can be helpful for textile producers to make amendments to their construction parameters to present acceptable stiffness and draping qualities of fabrics to the end consumers.

Silk wastes and autoclaved degumming as an alternative for a sustainable silk process

Silk degumming is considered the first point in the preparation of silk-based materials since this process could modify the silk fiber and the properties of its related products. This study evaluated the differences in morphology, secondary structure, amino acid content, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of two types of raw materials, defective cocoons (DC) and silk fibrous waste (SW), degummed by chemical (C) and autoclaving (A) methods. Subsequently, silk fibroin films were prepared by dissolving each type of degummed fibers, and thermal and structural films properties were determined. The findings demonstrated that autoclaving is an efficient alternative to remove silk sericin, as the resulting fibers presented improved structural, thermal, and mechanical properties compared to those obtained by the chemical method. For films preparation, autoclave resulted in a good option, but dissolution parameters need to be adjusted for defective cocoons. Furthermore, similarities between the physicochemical properties of fibers and films from both fibrous wastes suggest that SW is a promising raw material for producing fibrous resources and regenerated silk fibroin materials. Overall, these findings suggest new recycling methods for fibrous waste and by-products generated in the silk textile production process.

Systematic assessment of the silk deterioration behaviors for silk aging prediction

The silk cultural artifacts have suffered significant deterioration since their discovery, and the unsuitable conditions in the storage environment will further exacerbate this degradation. Systematically and quantitatively assessing the degree of deterioration of silk fabrics with multiple indexes is imperative. In this study, color difference, oxidation degree, crystallinity, and amino acid contents were employed to investigate the aging degradation process of silk fabrics. The results illustrated that both thermal and ultraviolet aging processes were accompanied by discoloration, increasing oxidation degree, decreasing crystalline degree, and amino acid contents reduction. Moreover, the aging level of silk fabrics deterioration behaviors varied across three different stages: (i) the initial stage was primarily marked by color changes, (ii) while oxidation degree and crystallinity alterations dominated in the intermediate phase, (iii) and a substantial reduction in amino acid contents prevailed during the final stage of aging. Therefore, the color difference could be identified as the early safety warning indicator for cultural relics preservation. The GM (1, 1) and GNNM (1, 1) forecasting models were utilized and the results suggested that GNNM (1, 1) outperformed GM (1, 1) in predicting the color properties of silk fabrics, indicating its potential for widespread use in predicting the deterioration of silk artifacts within collections. Collectively, this work comprehensively investigated the degradation process of silk fabrics and further achieved the prediction of color property changes during the simulated aging process, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for the conservation and protection of silk fabrics.

Technology of preparation of defective cocoons for reeling

In this article, one of the ways to effectively use non-smooth defective cocoons that cannot be used in reeling is covered. An analysis of the development of the silk industry and the scientific work currently being carried out in this direction is presented. Water and air permeability of defective cocoons produced during cocoon sorting, evaporation regimes, influence of solution concentration on cocooning was studied by single cocooning. It is based on the fact that the amount of raw silk can be increased by introducing the spinning of defective cocoons. In order to achieve the set goal, separate cooking and water filling regimes of defective cocoons depending on the type of defect were determined based on experiments. A new processing method is recommended for cooking defective cocoons. Recommended technological parameters and modes for workshops are presented in the tables. Defective cocoons with a new concentration based on the type of defect recommended.

Optimization Rubbing Fastness in Lyocell and Silk Fabric Dyeing with Tinospora cordifolia using Box-Behnken Design and Citrus limon Extract with Potassium Aluminium Sulfate Mordants

The demand for environmentally friendly natural dyes has risen significantly. This study currently aims to assess the rub-fastness properties of silk and lyocell fabrics that have been dyed using Tinospora cordifolia stem extracts. This dyeing process involves the utilization of both Citrus limon and potassium aluminium sulfate as mordants. To achieve this objective, we have employed the Box-Behnken experimental research design for sample preparation. Our investigation delves into the influence of various processing factors, encompassing dye concentration, time duration, and temperature, on the rubbing fastness attributes of lyocell and silk fabrics treated with Citrus limon extract and alum mordant. The dye, sourced through an aqueous extraction method from Tinospora cordifolia stems, is subsequently employed in dyeing silk and lyocell fabrics, followed by mordanting using the meta-mordanting technique. The assessment of rubbing fastness quality is conducted using the standard test method AATCC 8 for both fabric types. Our experimental findings unveil a notable similarity in rubbing properties between lyocell and silk fabrics dyed with Citrus limon and those treated with potassium aluminium sulfate mordant. Intriguingly, fabric samples treated with Citrus limon mordants exhibit marginally enhanced rubbing (2 to 3 G to 5 G) results when juxtaposed with their counterparts treated with potassium aluminium sulfate mordant. Throughout the experimental course, it becomes evident that both temperature (35 °C, 50 °C, 65 °C) and time (40, 55 and 70 min) exert a significant influence on the wet and dry rubbing fastness characteristics of both silk and lyocell fabrics. Notably, as dyeing time and temperature increase, there is a corresponding rise in fabric dye uptake.

An effective, economical, and rational strategy for bioremediation with an emphasis on sustainable development

Being an eco-friendly and efficient process, the synthesis of biomediated nanoparticles (NPs) has gained significant attention. Major factors for this increased research interest are the potential and viability of eco-friendly titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs synthesized using aqueous vegetable waste extract, as well as their efficiency in the photodegradation of wastewater discharged from the silk and cotton textile industries under UV radiation (λ max ≥ 250 nm). The vegetable waste extract acts as the reducing agent, and titanium (IV) isopropoxide acts as the precursor. The TiO2 NPs thus synthesized are characterized using UV–Vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX, and TEM analyses. To determine the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 NPs, wastewater from the silk and cotton textile industries was degraded under UV irradiation. The NPs showed a prominent absorption peak at 299 nm, with a predicted energy band gap of 4.01 eV. The presence of different functional groups in the NPs was confirmed using FT-IR analysis. The crystalline nature of the NPs (21 nm) was determined via XRD analysis using Scherrer's formula. When exposed to light for 10 h, the photodegradation of wastewater from the silk textile industry dramatically deteriorated by up to 99.2 %, whereas that of the wastewater from the cotton textile industry deteriorated by up to 98.23 %. Furthermore, TiO2 NPs may quickly degrade dangerous industrial effluents under exposure to sunlight. Thus, this study provides an understanding of several catalytic applications of the biologically produced TiO2 NPs.

Golden Threads of Tradition: The Endurance And Evolution of Muga Culture And Silk Weaving in Assam

Golden Threads of Tradition: The Endurance And Evolution of Muga Culture And Silk Weaving in Assam

Book Review of "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records"

In the flow of history, ancient writing mediums are akin to precious relics, carrying the legacy of millennia of wisdom and culture. A book titled "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records," published by Century Library in 2004, serves as a window through time, guiding us on a marvelous journey into the world of ancient Chinese writing mediums. The author of this book, Qian Cunxun, with his profound research and insightful perspectives, presents to us the historical trajectory of ancient writing mediums such as bamboo slips and silk fabric, exploring their significance and influence in the transmission of ancient culture. Ancient Chinese textual records form an extensive ocean, spanning from the earliest oracle bone script to later paper writing. Within this expanse, bamboo slips and silk fabric, as representatives of ancient writing mediums, uniquely radiate the brilliance of civilization. Bamboo slips once bore witness to the clash of ideas during the Warring States period and the competition between Legalist and Confucianist schools of thought. Silk fabric, on the other hand, provided a sturdy foundation for literary and artistic works such as calligraphy, poetry, and more. Today, the book "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records" guides us into the splendid realm of these writing mediums, offering us an opportunity to delve deep into their crafting techniques, preservation methods, and applications across various domains of ancient society. As Qian Cunxun has articulated, bamboo slips and silk fabric played significant roles in various aspects of ancient politics, culture, and economy. Bamboo slips, serving as the primary medium for political records, documented laws, decrees, and more, providing a solid foundation for the continuity of political systems. Meanwhile, silk fabric assumed a distinct role in the realm of culture, serving as a medium for artistic creations like painting and calligraphy. Simultaneously, in the domain of religion, silk fabric was utilized to transmit religious scriptures, becoming a medium for the dissemination of faith, and finding widespread use in the preservation of classics and the recording of religious rituals. Contemporary research and understanding of ancient Chinese culture are akin to an unfathomable universe, and "Script on Bamboo and Silk - Ancient Chinese Textual Records" has opened the gateway to this universe for us. Through in-depth exploration of ancient writing mediums, we can better grasp the diversity and richness of ancient society, comprehending its ideologies, arts, and systems. Qian Cunxun's rigorous research methods and profound analysis in the book enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical significance and cultural value of ancient writing mediums such as bamboo slips and silk fabric. In this era of information explosion, we are fortunate to delve into the world of ancient writing through this book, to sense the essence of that era, and to better comprehend the origins and inheritance of Chinese culture.

Antibacterial Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles in a Staphylococcus-aureus-Infected Galleria mellonella Model Is Tuned by Different Apple-Derived Phytocargos.

This research investigates pH changes during the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and emphasises its importance in their physicochemical, antibacterial, and biological properties. Varying the synthesis pH from 8 to 12 using "Bravo de Esmolfe" apple extracts neither affected the morphology nor crystallinity of ZnO but impacted NP phytochemical loads. This difference is because alkaline hydrolysis of phytochemicals occurred with increasing pH, resulting in BE-ZnO with distinct phytocargos. To determine the toxicity of BE-ZnO NPs, Galleria mellonella was used as an alternative to non-rodent models. These assays showed no adverse effects on larvae up to a concentration of 200 mg/kg and that NPs excess was relieved by faeces and silk fibres. This was evaluated by utilising fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to track NPs' intrinsic fluorescence. The antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus was higher for BE-ZnO12 than for BE-ZnO8; however, a different trend was attained in an in vivo infection model. This result may be related to NPs' residence in larvae haemocytes, modulated by their phytocargos. This research demonstrates, for the first time, the potential of green synthesis to modulate the biosafety and antibacterial activity of NPs in an advanced G. mellonella infection model. These findings support future strategies to overcome antimicrobial resistance by utilizing distinct phytocargos to modulate NPs' action over time.