Schaefer, C., Laity, P.R., Holland, C. orcid.org/0000-0003-0913-2221 et al. (1 more author) (2020) Silk protein solution : a natural example of sticky reptation. Macromolecules, 53 (7). pp. 2669-2676. ISSN 0024-9297
Abstract
Silk is one of the most intriguing examples of biomolecular self-assembly, yet little is understood of molecular mechanisms behind the flow behavior generating these complex high-performance fibers. This work applies the polymer physics of entangled solution rheology to present a first microphysical understanding of silk in the linear viscoelastic regime. We show that silk solutions can be approximated as reptating polymers with “sticky” calcium bridges whose strength can be controlled through the potassium concentration. This approach provides a new window into critical microstructural parameters, in particular identifying the mechanism by which potassium and calcium ions are recruited as a powerful viscosity control in silk. Our model constitutes a viable starting point to understand not only the “flow-induced self-assembly” of silk fibers but also a broader range of phenomena in the emergent field of material-focused synthetic biology.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 American Chemical Society. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Engineering (Sheffield) > Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Engineering and Physical Science Research Council EP/K005693/1 European Commission - Horizon 2020 713475 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 24 Apr 2020 13:13 |
Last Modified: | 24 Apr 2020 13:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Chemical Society (ACS) |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02630 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:159662 |