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Jain S, Vedavyas V, Prajwal RV, Shaji M, Nath VG, Angappane S, Achutharao G. Silk and its composites for humidity and gas sensing applications. Front Chem 2023; 11:1141259. [PMID: 37021147 PMCID: PMC10067913 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1141259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein largely used in the textile industry with applications in bio-medicine, catalysis as well as in sensing materials. SF is a fiber material which is bio-compatible, biodegradable, and possesses high tensile strength. The incorporation of nanosized particles into SF allows the development of a variety of composites with tailored properties and functions. Silk and its composites are being explored for a wide range of sensing applications like strain, proximity, humidity, glucose, pH and hazardous/toxic gases. Most studies aim at improving the mechanical strength of SF by preparing hybrids with metal-based nanoparticles, polymers and 2D materials. Studies have been conducted by introducing semiconducting metal oxides into SF to tailor its properties like conductivity for use as a gas sensing material, where SF acts as a conductive path as well as a substrate for the incorporated nanoparticles. We have reviewed gas and humidity sensing properties of silk, silk with 0D (i.e., metal oxide), 2D (e.g., graphene, MXenes) composites. The nanostructured metal oxides are generally used in sensing applications, which use its semiconducting properties to show variation in the measured properties (e.g., resistivity, impedance) due to analyte gas adsorption on its surface. For example, vanadium oxides (i.e., V2O5) have been shown as candidates for sensing nitrogen containing gases and doped vanadium oxides for sensing CO gas. In this review article we provide latest and important results in the gas and humidity sensing of SF and its composites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhanth Jain
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - V. Vedavyas
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - R. V. Prajwal
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Malavika Shaji
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Vishnu G Nath
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - S. Angappane
- Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Govindaraj Achutharao
- Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
- *Correspondence: Govindaraj Achutharao,
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2
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Eliaz D, Paul S, Benyamin D, Cernescu A, Cohen SR, Rosenhek-Goldian I, Brookstein O, Miali ME, Solomonov A, Greenblatt M, Levy Y, Raviv U, Barth A, Shimanovich U. Micro and nano-scale compartments guide the structural transition of silk protein monomers into silk fibers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7856. [PMID: 36543800 PMCID: PMC9772184 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35505-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk is a unique, remarkably strong biomaterial made of simple protein building blocks. To date, no synthetic method has come close to reproducing the properties of natural silk, due to the complexity and insufficient understanding of the mechanism of the silk fiber formation. Here, we use a combination of bulk analytical techniques and nanoscale analytical methods, including nano-infrared spectroscopy coupled with atomic force microscopy, to probe the structural characteristics directly, transitions, and evolution of the associated mechanical properties of silk protein species corresponding to the supramolecular phase states inside the silkworm's silk gland. We found that the key step in silk-fiber production is the formation of nanoscale compartments that guide the structural transition of proteins from their native fold into crystalline β-sheets. Remarkably, this process is reversible. Such reversibility enables the remodeling of the final mechanical characteristics of silk materials. These results open a new route for tailoring silk processing for a wide range of new material formats by controlling the structural transitions and self-assembly of the silk protein's supramolecular phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Eliaz
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - S. Paul
- grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D. Benyamin
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190401 Israel
| | - A. Cernescu
- grid.431971.9Neaspec—Attocube Systems AG, Eglfinger Weg 2, Haar, 85540 Munich Germany
| | - S. R. Cohen
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Re-hovot, Israel
| | - I. Rosenhek-Goldian
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Re-hovot, Israel
| | - O. Brookstein
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - M. E. Miali
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - A. Solomonov
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - M. Greenblatt
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Y. Levy
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - U. Raviv
- grid.9619.70000 0004 1937 0538Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190401 Israel
| | - A. Barth
- grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - U. Shimanovich
- grid.13992.300000 0004 0604 7563Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
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3
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Xu Y, Zhu H, Denduluri A, Ou Y, Erkamp NA, Qi R, Shen Y, Knowles TPJ. Recent Advances in Microgels: From Biomolecules to Functionality. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2200180. [PMID: 35790106 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202200180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The emerging applications of hydrogel materials at different length scales, in areas ranging from sustainability to health, have driven the progress in the design and manufacturing of microgels. Microgels can provide miniaturized, monodisperse, and regulatable compartments, which can be spatially separated or interconnected. These microscopic materials provide novel opportunities for generating biomimetic cell culture environments and are thus key to the advances of modern biomedical research. The evolution of the physical and chemical properties has, furthermore, highlighted the potentials of microgels in the context of materials science and bioengineering. This review describes the recent research progress in the fabrication, characterization, and applications of microgels generated from biomolecular building blocks. A key enabling technology allowing the tailoring of the properties of microgels is their synthesis through microfluidic technologies, and this paper highlights recent advances in these areas and their impact on expanding the physicochemical parameter space accessible using microgels. This review finally discusses the emerging roles that microgels play in liquid-liquid phase separation, micromechanics, biosensors, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufan Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Hongjia Zhu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Akhila Denduluri
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Yangteng Ou
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Nadia A Erkamp
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Runzhang Qi
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Yi Shen
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
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4
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Chen M, Qin J, Lu S, Zhang F, Zuo B. Robust Nanofiber Mats Exfoliated From Tussah Silk for Potential Biomedical Applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:746016. [PMID: 34926415 PMCID: PMC8677428 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.746016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanofibers as elements for bioscaffolds are pushing the development of tissue engineering. In this study, tussah silk was mechanically disintegrated into nanofibers dispersed in aqueous solution which was cast to generate tussah silk fibroin (TSF) nanofiber mats. The effect of treatment time on the morphology, structure, and mechanical properties of nanofiber mats was examined. SEM indicated decreasing diameter of the nanofiber with shearing time, and the diameter of the nanofiber was 139.7 nm after 30 min treatment. These nanofiber mats exhibited excellent mechanical properties; the breaking strength increased from 26.31 to 72.68 MPa with the decrease of fiber diameter from 196.5 to 139.7 nm. The particulate debris was observed on protease XIV degraded nanofiber mats, and the weight loss was greater than 10% after 30 days in vitro degradation. The cell compatibility experiment confirmed adhesion and spreading of NIH-3T3 cells and enhanced cell proliferation on TSF nanofiber mats compared to that on Bombyx mori silk nanofiber mats. In conclusion, results indicate that TSF nanofiber mats prepared in this study are mechanically robust, slow biodegradable, and biocompatible materials, and have promising application in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Stomatological Hospital, Suzhou, China
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianzhong Qin
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medicine School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shijun Lu
- The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Stomatological Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou, China
| | - Baoqi Zuo
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Suzhou, China
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5
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Gasymov OK, Mammedzade AM, Bakhishova MJ, Guliyeva AJ, Ragona L, Molinari H. Sodium fusidate prevents protein aggregation of silk fibroin and offers new perspectives for human lens material disaggregation. Biophys Chem 2021; 279:106680. [PMID: 34537590 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a non-pathological amyloidogenic protein prone, in solution, to the formation of amyloid-like aggregated species, displaying similarities in fibrillation kinetics with pathological amyloids, as widely reported in the literature. We show here, on the basis of different biophysical approaches (turbidity, Congo Red assays, CD, DLS and fluorescence), that fusidic acid (FA), a well-known antibiotic, acts on SF as an anti-aggregating agent in a dose-dependent manner, being also able to revert SF aggregation. FA binds to SF inducing changes in the environment of SF aromatic residues. We further provide the proof of principle that FA, already approved as drug on humans and used in ophthalmic preparations, displays its anti-aggregation properties also on lens material derived from cataract surgery and is capable of reducing aggregation. Thus it is suggested that FA can be foreseen as a therapeutic treatment for cataract and other protein aggregation disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oktay K Gasymov
- Institute of Biophysics of ANAS, 117 Z. Khalilov, AZ-1141 Baku, Azerbaijan.
| | - Aida M Mammedzade
- Institute of Biophysics of ANAS, 117 Z. Khalilov, AZ-1141 Baku, Azerbaijan
| | | | - Aytaj J Guliyeva
- Institute of Biophysics of ANAS, 117 Z. Khalilov, AZ-1141 Baku, Azerbaijan
| | - Laura Ragona
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC), CNR, via Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Henriette Molinari
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche (SCITEC), CNR, via Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy
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6
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Shen Y, Levin A, Kamada A, Toprakcioglu Z, Rodriguez-Garcia M, Xu Y, Knowles TPJ. From Protein Building Blocks to Functional Materials. ACS NANO 2021; 15:5819-5837. [PMID: 33760579 PMCID: PMC8155333 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c08510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Shen
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- School
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Aviad Levin
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Ayaka Kamada
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Marc Rodriguez-Garcia
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Xampla, the BioInnovation Building, 25 Cambridge
Science Park Road, Cambridge CB4 0FW, U.K.
| | - Yufan Xu
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Cavendish
Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
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7
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Hecker L, Wang W, Mela I, Fathi S, Poudel C, Soavi G, Huang YYS, Kaminski CF. Guided Assembly and Patterning of Intrinsically Fluorescent Amyloid Fibers with Long-Range Order. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:938-945. [PMID: 33448864 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c03672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fibrillar amyloids exhibit a fascinating range of mechanical, optical, and electronic properties originating from their characteristic β-sheet-rich structure. Harnessing these functionalities in practical applications has so far been hampered by a limited ability to control the amyloid self-assembly process at the macroscopic scale. Here, we use core-shell electrospinning with microconfinement to assemble amyloid-hybrid fibers, consisting of densely aggregated fibrillar amyloids stabilized by a polymer shell. Up to centimeter-long hybrid fibers with micrometer diameter can be arranged into aligned and ordered arrays and deposited onto substrates or produced as free-standing networks. Properties that are characteristic of amyloids, including their high elastic moduli and intrinsic fluorescence signature, are retained in the hybrid fiber cores, and we show that they fully persist through the macroscopic fiber patterns. Our findings suggest that microlevel confinement is key for the guided assembly of amyloids from monomeric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hecker
- Department for Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ioanna Mela
- Department for Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Saeed Fathi
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Chetan Poudel
- Department for Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
| | - Giancarlo Soavi
- Institute of Solid State Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Yan Yan Shery Huang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Clemens F Kaminski
- Department for Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge CB3 0AS, United Kingdom
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8
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Zhang L, Lu JR, Waigh TA. Electronics of peptide- and protein-based biomaterials. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 287:102319. [PMID: 33248339 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2020.102319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biologically inspired peptide- and protein-based materials are at the forefront of organic bioelectronics research due to their inherent conduction properties and excellent biocompatibility. Peptides have the advantages of structural simplicity and ease of synthesis providing credible prospects for mass production, whereas naturally expressed proteins offer inspiration with many examples of high performance evolutionary optimised bioelectronics properties. We review recent advances in the fundamental conduction mechanisms, experimental techniques and exemplar applications for the bioelectronics of self-assembling peptides and proteins. Diverse charge transfer processes, such as tunnelling, hopping and coupled transfer, are found in naturally occurring biological systems with peptides and proteins as the predominant building blocks to enable conduction in biology. Both theory and experiments allow detailed investigation of bioelectronic properties in order to design functionalized peptide- and protein-based biomaterials, e.g. to create biocompatible aqueous electrodes. We also highlight the design of bioelectronics devices based on peptides/proteins including field-effect transistors, piezoelectric energy harvesters and optoelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zhang
- Biological Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - J R Lu
- Biological Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - T A Waigh
- Biological Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Photon Science Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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9
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Belousov R, Qaisrani MN, Hassanali A, Roldán É. First-passage fingerprints of water diffusion near glutamine surfaces. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:9202-9216. [PMID: 32510065 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00541j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The extent to which biological interfaces affect the dynamics of water plays a key role in the exchange of matter and chemical interactions that are essential for life. The density and the mobility of water molecules depend on their proximity to biological interfaces and can play an important role in processes such as protein folding and aggregation. In this work, we study the dynamics of water near glutamine surfaces-a system of interest in studies of neurodegenerative diseases. Combining molecular-dynamics simulations and stochastic modelling, we study how the mean first-passage time and related statistics of water molecules escaping subnanometer-sized regions vary from the interface to the bulk. Our analysis reveals a dynamical complexity that reflects underlying chemical and geometrical properties of the glutamine surfaces. From the first-passage time statistics of water molecules, we infer their space-dependent diffusion coefficient in directions normal to the surfaces. Interestingly, our results suggest that the mobility of water varies over a longer length scale than the chemical potential associated with the water-protein interactions. The synergy of molecular dynamics and first-passage techniques opens the possibility for extracting space-dependent diffusion coefficients in more complex, inhomogeneous environments that are commonplace in living matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Belousov
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Muhammad Nawaz Qaisrani
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy. and SISSA - International School for Advanced Studies, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ali Hassanali
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Édgar Roldán
- ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy.
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10
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Abstract
Nanoscale optical labeling is an advanced bioimaging tool. It is mostly based on fluorescence (FL) phenomena and enables the visualization of single biocells, bacteria, viruses, and biological tissues, providing monitoring of functional biosystems in vitro and in vivo, and the imaging-guided transportation of drug molecules. There is a variety of FL biolabels such as organic molecular dyes, genetically encoded fluorescent proteins (green fluorescent protein and homologs), semiconductor quantum dots, carbon dots, plasmonic metal gold-based nanostructures and more. In this review, a new generation of FL biolabels based on the recently found biophotonic effects of visible FL are described. This intrinsic FL phenomenon is observed in any peptide/protein materials folded into β-sheet secondary structures, irrespective of their composition, complexity, and origin. The FL effect has been observed both in natural amyloid fibrils, associated with neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and more), and diverse synthetic peptide/protein structures subjected to thermally induced biological refolding helix-like→β-sheet. This approach allowed us to develop a new generation of FL peptide/protein bionanodots radiating multicolor, tunable, visible FL, covering the entire visible spectrum in the range of 400–700 nm. Newly developed biocompatible nanoscale biomarkers are considered as a promising tool for emerging precise biomedicine and advanced medical nanotechnologies (high-resolution bioimaging, light diagnostics, therapy, optogenetics, and health monitoring).
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11
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Kumar S, Hause G, Binder WH. Thio-Bromo "Click" Reaction Derived Polymer-Peptide Conjugates for Their Self-Assembled Fibrillar Nanostructures. Macromol Biosci 2020; 20:e2000048. [PMID: 32285651 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and self-assembly of peptide-polymer conjugates into fibrillar nanostructures are reported, based on the amyloidogenic peptide KLVFF. A strategy for rational synthesis of polymer-peptide conjugates is documented via tethering of the amyloidogenic peptide segment LVFF (Aβ17-20 ) and its modified derivative FFFF to the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (mPEG) polymer via thio-bromo based "click" chemistry. The resultant conjugates mPEG-LVFF-OMe and mPEG-FFFF-OMe are purified via preparative gel permeation chromatography technique (with a yield of 61% and 64%, respectively), and are successfully characterized via combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, including electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The peptide-guided self-assembling behavior of the as-constructed amphiphilic supramolecular materials is further investigated via transmission electron microscopic and circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis, exhibiting fibrillar nanostructure formation in binary aqueous solution mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Kumar
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science II (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics), Institute of Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany.,Department of Applied Sciences (Chemistry), Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Gerd Hause
- Biocenter, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinbergweg 22, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H Binder
- Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science II (Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics), Institute of Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
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12
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Hu F, Lin N, Liu XY. Interplay between Light and Functionalized Silk Fibroin and Applications. iScience 2020; 23:101035. [PMID: 32311584 PMCID: PMC7168770 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Silkworm silk has been considered to be a luxurious textile for more than five thousand years. Native silk fibroin (SF) films have excellent (ca. 90%) optical transparency and exhibit fluorescence under UV light. The silk dyeing process is very important and difficult, and methods such as pigmentary coloration and structural coloration have been tested for coloring silk fabrics. To functionalize silk that exhibits fluorescence, the in vivo and in vitro assembly of functional compounds with SF and the resulting amplification of fluorescence emission are examined. Finally, we discuss the applications of SF materials in basic optical elements, light energy conversion devices, photochemical reactions, sensing, and imaging. This review is expected to provide insight into the interaction between light and silk and to inspire researchers to develop silk materials with a consideration of history, material properties, and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Hu
- Institute of Advanced Materials, East China Jiaotong University, No. 808 Shuanggang East Street, Nanchang 330013, China; Research Institution for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Key Provincial Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, 422 Siming South Road, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Naibo Lin
- Research Institution for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Key Provincial Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, 422 Siming South Road, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - X Y Liu
- Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, 117542 Singapore, Singapore.
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13
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Tullii G, Donini S, Bossio C, Lodola F, Pasini M, Parisini E, Galeotti F, Antognazza MR. Micro- and Nanopatterned Silk Substrates for Antifouling Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:5437-5446. [PMID: 31917532 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b18187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A major problem of current biomedical implants is the bacterial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation, which seriously affects their functioning and can lead to serious post-surgical complications. Intensive efforts have been directed toward the development of novel technologies that can prevent bacterial colonization while requiring minimal antibiotics doses. To this end, biocompatible materials with intrinsic antifouling capabilities are in high demand. Silk fibroin, widely employed in biotechnology, represents an interesting candidate. Here, we employ a soft-lithography approach to realize micro- and nanostructured silk fibroin substrates, with different geometries. We show that patterned silk film substrates support mammal cells (HEK-293) adhesion and proliferation, and at the same time, they intrinsically display remarkable antifouling properties. We employ Escherichia coli as representative Gram-negative bacteria, and we observe an up to 66% decrease in the number of bacteria that adhere to patterned silk surfaces as compared to control, flat silk samples. The mechanism leading to the inhibition of biofilm formation critically depends on the microstructure geometry, involving both a steric and a hydrophobic effect. We also couple silk fibroin patterned films to a biocompatible, optically responsive organic semiconductor, and we verify that the antifouling properties are very well preserved. The technology described here is of interest for the next generation of biomedical implants, involving the use of materials with enhanced antibacterial capability, easy processability, high biocompatibility, and prompt availability for coupling with photoimaging and photodetection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Tullii
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
- Department of Physics , Politecnico di Milano , Piazza L. Da Vinci 32 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - S Donini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - C Bossio
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - F Lodola
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - M Pasini
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - E Parisini
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - F Galeotti
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (SCITEC-CNR) , Via Alfonso Corti 12 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
| | - M R Antognazza
- Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , via Pascoli 70/3 , 20133 , Milano , Italy
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei Solomonov
- Department of Materials and Interfaces Weizmann Institute of Science 7610001 Rehovot Israel
| | - Ulyana Shimanovich
- Department of Materials and Interfaces Weizmann Institute of Science 7610001 Rehovot Israel
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15
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Brif A, Laity P, Claeyssens F, Holland C. Dynamic Photo-cross-linking of Native Silk Enables Macroscale Patterning at a Microscale Resolution. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 6:705-714. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Brif
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, U.K
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, U.K
| | - Peter Laity
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, U.K
| | - Frederik Claeyssens
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ, U.K
| | - Chris Holland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, U.K
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16
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Blamires SJ, Cerexhe G, White TE, Herberstein ME, Kasumovic MM. Spider silk colour covaries with thermal properties but not protein structure. J R Soc Interface 2019; 16:20190199. [PMID: 31362622 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how and why animal secretions vary in property has important biomimetic implications as desirable properties might covary. Spider major ampullate (MA) silk, for instance, is a secretion earmarked for biomimetic applications, but many of its properties vary among and between species across environments. Here, we tested the hypothesis that MA silk colour, protein structure and thermal properties covary when protein uptake is manipulated in the spider Trichonephila plumipes. We collected silk from adult female spiders maintained on a protein-fed or protein-deprived diet. Based on spectrophotometric quantifications, we classified half the silks as 'bee visible' and the other half 'bee invisible'. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry were then used to assess the silk's protein structure and thermal properties, respectively. We found that although protein structures and thermal properties varied across our treatments only the thermal properties covaried with colour. This ultimately suggests that protein structure alone is not responsible for MA silk thermal properties, nor does it affect silk colours. We speculate that similar ecological factors act on silk colour and thermal properties, which should be uncovered to inform biomimetic programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J Blamires
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.,Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Georgia Cerexhe
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Thomas E White
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Macleay (A12), Room 208, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Michael M Kasumovic
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences E26, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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17
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Apter B, Lapshina N, Handelman A, Rosenman G. Light waveguiding in bioinspired peptide nanostructures. J Pept Sci 2019; 25:e3164. [PMID: 30900328 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Basic optical properties of bioinspired peptide nanostructures are deeply modified by thermally mediated refolding of peptide secondary structure from α-helical to β-sheet. This conformational transition is followed by the appearance in the β-sheet structures of a wideband optical absorption and fluorescence in the visible region. We demonstrate that a new biophotonic effect of optical waveguiding recently observed in peptide/protein nanoensembles is a structure-sensitive bimodal phenomenon. In the primary α-helical structure input, light propagates via optical transmission window demonstrating conventional passive waveguiding, based on classical optics. In the β-sheet structure, fluorescent (active) light waveguiding is revealed. The latter can be attributed to completely different physical mechanism of exciton-polariton propagation, characterized by high effective refractive index, and can be observed in nanoscale fibers below diffraction limit. It has been shown that peptide material requirements for passive and active waveguiding are dissimilar. Original biocompatibility and biodegradability indicate high potential future applications of these bioinspired waveguiding materials in precise photobiomedicine towards advanced highly selective bioimaging, photon diagnostics, and optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Apter
- Faculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel
| | - Nadezda Lapshina
- School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amir Handelman
- Faculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, Israel
| | - Gil Rosenman
- School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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18
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Gasymov OK, Botta C, Ragona L, Guliyeva AJ, Molinari H. Silk Fibroin-Based Films Enhance Rhodamine 6G Emission in the Solid State: A Chemical-Physical Analysis of their Interactions for the Design of Highly Emissive Biomaterials. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201800460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oktay K. Gasymov
- Institute of Biophysics of ANAS; 117 Khalilov AZ-1141 Baku Azerbaijan
| | - Chiara Botta
- Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole (ISMAC), CNR; via Corti 12 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Laura Ragona
- Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole (ISMAC), CNR; via Corti 12 20133 Milano Italy
| | - Aytaj J. Guliyeva
- Institute of Biophysics of ANAS; 117 Khalilov AZ-1141 Baku Azerbaijan
| | - Henriette Molinari
- Istituto per lo Studio delle Macromolecole (ISMAC), CNR; via Corti 12 20133 Milano Italy
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19
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Apter B, Lapshina N, Handelman A, Fainberg BD, Rosenman G. Peptide Nanophotonics: From Optical Waveguiding to Precise Medicine and Multifunctional Biochips. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1801147. [PMID: 30027685 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201801147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Optical waveguiding phenomena found in bioinspired chemically synthesized peptide nanostructures are a new paradigm which can revolutionize emerging fields of precise medicine and health monitoring. A unique combination of their intrinsic biocompatibility with remarkable multifunctional optical properties and developed nanotechnology of large peptide wafers makes them highly promising for new biomedical light therapy tools and implantable optical biochips. This Review highlights a new field of peptide nanophotonics. It covers peptide nanotechnology and the fabrication process of peptide integrated optical circuits, basic studies of linear and nonlinear optical phenomena in biological and bioinspired nanostructures, and their passive and active optical waveguiding. It is shown that the optical properties of this generation of bio-optical materials are governed by fundamental biological processes. Refolding the peptide secondary structure is followed by wideband optical absorption and visible tunable fluorescence. In peptide optical waveguides, such a bio-optical effect leads to switching from passive waveguiding mode in native α-helical phase to an active one in the β-sheet phase. The found active waveguiding effect in β-sheet fiber structures below optical diffraction limit opens an avenue for the future development of new bionanophotonics in ultrathin peptide/protein fibrillar structures toward advanced biomedical nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Apter
- Faculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, 5810201, Israel
| | - Nadezda Lapshina
- School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Amir Handelman
- Faculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, 5810201, Israel
| | - Boris D Fainberg
- Faculty of Science, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon, 5810201, Israel
- School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Gil Rosenman
- School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
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20
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Kopp MRG, Villois A, Capasso Palmiero U, Arosio P. Microfluidic Diffusion Analysis of the Size Distribution and Microrheological Properties of Antibody Solutions at High Concentrations. Ind Eng Chem Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie R. G. Kopp
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Villois
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Umberto Capasso Palmiero
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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