| Autor: |
Bäcklund FG; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 14186 Huddinge, Sweden., Schmuck B; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 14186 Huddinge, Sweden.; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden., Miranda GHB; Division of Computational Science and Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden.; BioImage Informatics Facility, Science for Life Laboratory, 17165 Solna, Sweden., Greco G; Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden., Pugno NM; Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta, Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77, 38123 Trento, Italy.; School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK., Rydén J; Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden., Rising A; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 14186 Huddinge, Sweden.; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden. |
| Abstrakt: |
Silk fibers derived from the cocoon of silk moths and the wide range of silks produced by spiders exhibit an array of features, such as extraordinary tensile strength, elasticity, and adhesive properties. The functional features and mechanical properties can be derived from the structural composition and organization of the silk fibers. Artificial recombinant protein fibers based on engineered spider silk proteins have been successfully made previously and represent a promising way towards the large-scale production of fibers with predesigned features. However, for the production and use of protein fibers, there is a need for reliable objective quality control procedures that could be automated and that do not destroy the fibers in the process. Furthermore, there is still a lack of understanding the specifics of how the structural composition and organization relate to the ultimate function of silk-like fibers. In this study, we develop a new method for the categorization of protein fibers that enabled a highly accurate prediction of fiber tensile strength. Based on the use of a common light microscope equipped with polarizers together with image analysis for the precise determination of fiber morphology and optical properties, this represents an easy-to-use, objective non-destructive quality control process for protein fiber manufacturing and provides further insights into the link between the supramolecular organization and mechanical functionality of protein fibers. |
