Name: microfluidic dry-spinning and characterization of regenerated silk fibroin fibers
Uploaded: 2017-09-04T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers at JoVE.com

This work is sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21674018), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFA0201702 /2016YFA0201700), and the "Shuguang Program" supported by Shanghai Education Development Foundation and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (15SG30), DHU Distinguished Young Professor Program (A201302), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the 111 Project (No.111-2-04).

CAUTION: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets before use. Several of the chemicals used in preparing the molding are acutely toxic. Please use personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, full length pants, and closed-toe shoes).
1. Microfluidic Spinning of RSF Aqueous Solution
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of RSF aqueous spinning dope4,15,16
	<ol>
		<...

<ol>
	<li>Asakura, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Some+observations+on+the+structure+and+function+of+the+spinning+apparatus+in+the+silkworm+Bombyx+mori.">Some observations on the structure and function of the spinning apparatus in the silkworm Bombyx mori.</a> Biomacromolecules. 8 (1), 175-181 (2007).</li><li>Vollrath, F., Knight, D. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liquid+crystalline+spinning+of+spider+silk.">Liquid crystalline spinning of spider silk.</a> Nature. 410 (6828), 541-548 (2001).</li><li>Zhou, G. Q., Shao, Z. Z., Knight, D. P., Yan, J. P., Chen, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Silk+Fibers+Extruded+Artificially+from+Aqueous+Solutions+of+Regenerated+Bombyx+mori+Silk+Fibroin+are+Tougher+than+their+Natural+Counterparts.">Silk Fibers Extruded Artificially from Aqueous Solutions of Regenerated Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin are Tougher than their Natural Counterparts.</a> Adv Mater. 21 (3), 366-370 (2009).</li><li>Sun, M. J., Zhang, Y. P., Zhao, Y. M., Shao, H. L., Hu, X. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+structure-property+relationships+of+artificial+silk+fabricated+by+dry-spinning+process.">The structure-property relationships of artificial silk fabricated by dry-spinning process.</a> J Mater Chem. 22 (35), 18372-18379 (2012).</li><li>Martel, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Silk+Fiber+Assembly+Studied+by+Synchrotron+Radiation+SAXS/WAXS+and+Raman+Spectroscopy.">Silk Fiber Assembly Studied by Synchrotron Radiation SAXS/WAXS and Raman Spectroscopy.</a> J Am Chem Soc. 130 (50), 17070-17074 (2008).</li><li>Rammensee, S., Slotta, U., Scheibel, T., Bausch, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assembly+mechanism+of+recombinant+spider+silk+proteins.">Assembly mechanism of recombinant spider silk proteins.</a> P Natl Acad Sci USA. 105 (18), 6590-6595 (2008).</li><li>Kinahan, M. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tunable+silk:+using+microfluidics+to+fabricate+silk+fibers+with+controllable+properties.">Tunable silk: using microfluidics to fabricate silk fibers with controllable properties.</a> Biomacromolecules. 12 (5), 1504-1511 (2011).</li><li>Luo, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tough+silk+fibers+prepared+in+air+using+a+biomimetic+microfluidic+chip.">Tough silk fibers prepared in air using a biomimetic microfluidic chip.</a> Int J Biol Macromol. 66, 319-324 (2014).</li><li>Peng, Q. F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recombinant+spider+silk+from+aqueous+solutions+via+a+bio-inspired+microfluidic+chip.">Recombinant spider silk from aqueous solutions via a bio-inspired microfluidic chip.</a> Sci Rep. 6, (2016).</li><li>Peng, Q. F., Shao, H. L., Hu, X. C., Zhang, Y. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+humidity+on+the+structures+and+properties+of+regenerated+silk+fibers.">Role of humidity on the structures and properties of regenerated silk fibers.</a> Prog Nat Sci-Matter. 25 (5), 430-436 (2015).</li><li>Sampath, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X-ray+diffraction+study+of+nanocrystalline+and+amorphous+structure+within+major+and+minor+ampullate+dragline+spider+silks.">X-ray diffraction study of nanocrystalline and amorphous structure within major and minor ampullate dragline spider silks.</a> Soft Matter. 8 (25), 6713-6722 (2012).</li><li>Martel, A., Burghammer, M., Davies, R. J., Riekel, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thermal+Behavior+of+Bombyx+mori+silk:+Evolution+of+crystalline+parameters,+molecular+structure,+and+mechanical+properties.">Thermal Behavior of Bombyx mori silk: Evolution of crystalline parameters, molecular structure, and mechanical properties.</a> Biomacromolecules. 8 (11), 3548-3556 (2007).</li><li>Pan, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nanoconfined+crystallites+toughen+artificial+silk.">Nanoconfined crystallites toughen artificial silk.</a> J Matter Chem B. 2 (10), 1408-1414 (2014).</li><li>Zhang, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microstructural+evolution+of+regenerated+silk+fibroin/graphene+oxide+hybrid+fibers+under+tensile+deformation.">Microstructural evolution of regenerated silk fibroin/graphene oxide hybrid fibers under tensile deformation.</a> Rsc Adv. 7 (6), 3108-3116 (2017).</li><li>Wei, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bio-inspired+capillary+dry+spinning+of+regenerated+silk+fibroin+aqueous+solution.">Bio-inspired capillary dry spinning of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solution.</a> Mat Sci Eng C-Mater. 31 (7), 1602-1608 (2011).</li><li>Jin, Y., Zhang, Y. P., Hang, Y. C., Shao, H. L., Hu, X. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+simple+process+for+dry+spinning+of+regenerated+silk+fibroin+aqueous+solution.">A simple process for dry spinning of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solution.</a> J Mater Res. 28 (20), 2897-2902 (2013).</li><li>Jin, Y., Hang, Y. C., Zhang, Y. P., Shao, H. L., Hu, X. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+Ca2++on+structures+and+properties+of+regenerated+silk+fibroin+aqueous+solutions+and+fibres.">Role of Ca2+ on structures and properties of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solutions and fibres.</a> Mater Res Innov. 18, 113-116 (2014).</li><li>Koh, L. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structures,+mechanical+properties+and+applications+of+silk+fibroin+materials.">Structures, mechanical properties and applications of silk fibroin materials.</a> Prog Polym Sci. 46, 86-110 (2015).</li><li>McDonald, J. C., Whitesides, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Poly(dimethylsiloxane)+as+a+material+for+fabricating+microfluidic+devices.">Poly(dimethylsiloxane) as a material for fabricating microfluidic devices.</a> Accounts Chem Res. 35 (7), 491-499 (2002).</li><li>Knight, D. P., Vollrath, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Liquid+crystals+and+flow+elongation+in+a+spider's+silk+production+line.">Liquid crystals and flow elongation in a spider's silk production line.</a> P Roy Soc B-Biol Sci. 266 (1418), 519-523 (1999).</li></ol>

During the dialysis of the RSF solution, the pH value is critical for the following concentration process. If the pH value of the deionized water is smaller than 6, the RSF solution will be easier to gel during the concentration process. To avoid gelation, CaCl2 is added to the RSF solution. The concentration of CaCl2 is 1 mmol per weight of RSF.
Our previous work demonstrated the possibility of microfluidic dry-spinning of an RSF aqueous solution8...

Spider and silkworm can produce outstanding silk fiber from aqueous protein solution at ambient temperature and pressure. Shearing and extensional flow can induce the formation of liquid crystal texture in the silk gland1. In recent years, there has been a great interest in mimicking the spinning process of the spider in order to produce high strength artificial fibers. However, large quantities of spider silk protein cannot be produced efficiently and economically by farming spiders due to cannibalism. Substantial amounts of silkworm silk can be obtained easily by farming. Otherwise, the silkworm and spider have a similar spinning process and amino acid composition. Therefore, silkworm silk fibroin is selected as a substitute to spin artificial animal silk by many researchers.
Spider and silkworm extrude protein solution through their spinning duct into fiber in air. The high stress forces generated along the spinning duct most likely stretch the silk fibroin molecules to a more extended conformation2. Artificial silk fibers have been spun using conventional wet spinning and dry-spinning processes3,4, which do not take into account the fluid forces generated in the spinning duct.
First, microfluidic approaches were used to investigate the assembly of silk protein5,6. Then, microfluidic fabrication of RSF was studied via modeling the shearing and extensional forces7,8. Young&#39;s modulus and diameter of RSF fibers can be tuned by microfluidic wet spinning, but the tensile strength of drawn fiber was less than 100 MPa7. Finally, high strength RSF fibers were successfully prepared using the microfluidic dry-spinning method, but the diameter of the fiber is only 2 &#181;m8. Recently, microfluidic wet spinning was successfully used in the production of high strength recombinant spider silk fiber. The post-spinning drawing in air improved the surface and internal defects of artificial fiber9.
In this study, the improved microfluidic spinning process for RSF fiber is introduced. It aims to mimic the spinning process of silkworm silk, including the spinning dope, shearing forces, and dry-spinning process. This spinning method not only can produce high strength artificial silk fiber, but also can adjust the diameter of the fiber. Firstly, the RSF spinning dope was sheared and elongated in a biomimic channel with a second order exponential decay. Secondly, the influences of relative humidity (RH) on the fiber morphology and properties were studied in the microfluidic dry-spinning process10. Compared to the conventional spinning spinneret, our microfluidic system is highly biomimetic and can be used to produce high strength fiber from solutions at ambient temperature by the dry or wet spinning method.
Due to the high-resolution, high-brightness, and high-energy of the synchrotron radiation microfocus X-ray, it can be used to characterize the microstructure of a single fiber with a diameter of several micrometers4,11,12,13,14. Here, SR-WAXD technique was used to calculate the crystallinity, crystallite size and crystalline orientation of RSF fibers.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>B. mori Cocoons</td>
			<td>Farmer in Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province, China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium carbonate, anhydrous, 99.8%</td>
			<td>Shanghai Lingfeng Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lithium bromide, 99.1%</td>
			<td>Shanghai China Lithium Industrial Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium chloride, anhydrous, 96.0%</td>
			<td>Shanghai Lingfeng Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol, anhydrous, 99.7%</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Group Chemical Reagent Co.,Ltd., China</td>
			<td>10009218</td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SU-8 photoresist</td>
			<td>MicroChem Corp., USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Developing solution</td>
			<td>MicroChem Corp., USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sylgard 184</td>
			<td>Dow Corning, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropanol</td>
			<td>Shanghai Lingfeng Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Concentrated sulfuric acid</td>
			<td>Pinghu Chemical Reagent Factory, China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>30 vol% hydrogen peroxide</td>
			<td>Shanghai Jinlu Chemical reagent Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Acetone</td>
			<td>Shanghai Zhengxing Chemical Reagent Factory, China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Analytically Pure</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oxygen plasma treatment</td>
			<td>DT-01, Suzhou Omega Machinery Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe pump</td>
			<td>&#160;KD Scientific, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>KDS 200P</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Humidifier</td>
			<td>SEN electric</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Driller</td>
			<td>Hangzhou Bo Yang Machinery Co., Ltd., China</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>bench drilling machine Z406c</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Material testing system</td>
			<td>Instron, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Model: 5565</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PeakFit</td>
			<td>Systat Software, Inc., USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Version 4.12</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microfluidic dry-spinning and characterization of regenerated silk fibroin fibers

The protocol demonstrates a method for mimicking the spinning process of silkworm. In the native spinning process, the contracting spinning duct enables the silk proteins to be compact and ordered by shearing and elongation forces. Here, a biomimetic microfluidic channel was designed to mimic the specific geometry of the spinning duct of the silkworm. Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) spinning doped with high concentration, was extruded through the microchannel to dry-spin fibers at ambient temperature and pressure. In the post-treated process, the as-spun fibers were drawn and stored in ethanol aqueous solution. Synchrotron radiation wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SR-WAXD) technology was used to investigate the microstructure of single RSF fibers, which were fixed to a sample holder with the RSF fiber axis normal to the microbeam of the X-ray. The crystallinity, crystallite size, and crystalline orientation of the fiber were calculated from the WAXD data. The diffraction arcs near the equator of the two-dimensional WAXD pattern indicate that the post-treated RSF fiber has a high orientation degree.

High strength RSF fibers were successfully produced by using the microfluidic spinning method. The stress-strain curves and SEM images of the stretched RSF fibers C44R40 are shown in Figure 2. At least 10 fibers were measured in the tensile test. Stress-strain curves were chosen according to the average value of the breaking stress and strain of fibers. The WAXD data of the fibers are shown in Figure 3. The crystallinity and crys...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers at JoVE.com

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers

A protocol for the microfluidic spinning and microstructure characterization of regenerated silk fibroin monofilament is presented.

The protocol demonstrates a method for mimicking the spinning process of silkworm. In the native spinning process, the contracting spinning duct enables ...

The overall goal of this experiment is to observe the effect of relative humidity on structure and tensile properties of regenerated silk fibroin fibers using a microfluidic dry-spinning method. This method can help answer key questions in the biomimetic spinning, such as shear forces and the dry spinning process. The main advantage of this technique is that the microfluidic channel is designed to mimic the spinning duct of a silk worm.This method can provide insight into the dry spinning process of silk fibroin. This can also be used to the wet spinning process of recombining spider silk. Generally, new individuals new to this method will struggle.Because, it needs two weeks to prepare the spinning dope and also to insure it has good spinning ability. Visual demonstration of this method is very critical. Because, if you are lack of experience, the spinning dope is very difficult to make, and the spinning time is very essential for you to make.Start by degumming the Bombyx mori cocoons in an aqueous solution containing 0.5%sodium carbonate. Incubate the submerged cocoons at 100 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Then, replace the sodium carbonate solution and repeat the incubation a second time.When finished, wash the silk with deionized water to remove the sericin. Dry the degummed cocoon silks in air, and then submerge them in 9.0 molar lithium bromide at a weight to weight ratio of 1:10. Incubate the silks at 40 degrees Celsius for two hours until the silks are completely dissolved.Next, dilute the regenerated silk fibroin solution 1.5 times in 250 milliliter bottles using deionized water. Centrifuge the solution, and then use a vacuum pump to filter it through a double filter paper bed, with a 20 micron mesh size to remove any impurities. Place 250 milliliters of the filtered regenerated silk fibroin solution into cellulose semi-permeable membrane dialysis bags, and dialyze each bag in 10 liters of reverse osmosis deionized water at five degrees Celsius for three days.Following dialysis, use forced air flow to condense the solution at five degrees Celsius down to 20%of the original weight. Next, add a three molar aqueous solution of calcium chloride to the condensed solution to achieve a final concentration of 1.0 millimoles per gram of calcium ions. Again, concentrate the regenerated silk fibroin solution by forced air flow to 44%of its starting weight.Begin by boiling a glass slide for 20 minutes in a mixed solution of concentrated sulfuric acid and 30%hydrogen peroxide solution in a 10:1 mixture. When finished, wash the glass slide using deionized water, and then blow dry it using high-purity nitrogen. Next, place the glass slide in a custom-built coating device with a gap of 100 micrometers between the bottom surface of the coating bar and the upper surface of the glass.Fill the gap with SU-8 photoresist and then spin coat the photoresist at 40.3 times G for 30 seconds to form a uniform film about 85 micrometers thick. Next, place the slide with the photoresist in an oven with a temperature-controlling program. Elevate the temperature from room temperature to 65 degrees Celsius at a rate of two degrees Celsius per minute, and hold the temperature at 65 degrees Celsius for two minutes.Then, continue to heat the slide from 65 degrees Celsius to 95 degrees Celsius at a rate of two degrees Celsius per minute, and hold the temperature at 95 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. At this point, turn off the oven and let the slide cool down naturally to room temperature in the oven. Next, place the slide with the photoresist under a UV light and align a photomask containing the proper microchannel above the slide.Expose the side of the slide to UV light for 12 seconds. Following exposure, place the slide back into the oven, and heat as before. After baking, clean the photoresist ultrasonically in developer solution for 30 seconds.Then, use isopropanol and developer alternately to wash the glass slide until there is no precipitation on the glass slide. Solidify the photoresist in an oven with a temperature-controlling program. Elevate the temperature from room temperature to 170 degrees Celsius at two degrees Celsius per minute, and hold at 170 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, and then turn off the oven and cool down naturally to room temperature in the oven.Next, place the cured SU-8 mold into an aluminum box, and pour 8.8 grams of PDMS pre-polymer over the mold to a height of about five millimeters. Cure the PDMS for 30 minutes at 65 degrees Celsius and 15 minutes at 80 degrees Celsius. Once cured, use a 1.2 millimeter diameter drill bit to drill a hole though the PDMS replica at the beginning of the channel.Then, place the PDMS channel side up along with a second flat PDMS layer into a plasma coater, and treat with oxygen plasma. Seal the PDMS layer with the channel to a flat PDMS layer immediately after removing them from the plasma chamber. The microchannel is now ready to use.Inject the regenerated silk fibroin spinning dope into the microchannel at two microliters per minute using a syringe pump. Adjust the relative humidity in the electrospinning area to 40 or 50%relative humidity using a humidifier. Then, turn on a roller so that the surface is moving at three centimeters per second.Once the humidity has stabilized, touch the regenerated silk fibroin drop and draw a silk fiber into the air. Then, place it onto the roller through the 10 centimeter air gap. The roller will draw the remaining silk fibers.When finished, store the fibers in a sealed desiccator for 24 hours. The next day, post-treat the fibers by drawing them out four times at 0.9 millimeters per second in 80%ethanol using a custom-built machine. Keep the drawn fiber fixed, and immerse them in 80%ethanol solution for one hour.Finally, fix the post-treated fibers on a paper frame with a 10 millimeter gauge length. Shown here is an SEM fiber of the final stretched regenerated silk fibroin fiber. These fibers had an average diameter of nine microns.When measured under tension, the fibers formed under the condition of 40%relative humidity had a slightly higher ultimate tensile strength and maximum strain, but had similar Young's modulus compared with the fibers formed under 50%relative humidity. After watching this video, you should understand how to dry spin a silk fiber from an aqueous silk solution with a bio-inspired microfluidic chip.

microfluidic-dry-spinning-characterization-regenerated-silk-fibroin

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

Split-and-pool Synthesis and Characterization of Peptide Tertiary Amide Library

Peptidomimetics are great sources of protein ligands. The oligomeric nature of these compounds enables us to access large synthetic libraries on solid phase by using combinatorial chemistry. One of the most well studied classes of peptidomimetics is peptoids. Peptoids are easy to synthesize and have been shown to be proteolysis-resistant and cell-permeable. Over the past decade, many useful protein ligands have been identified through screening of peptoid libraries. However, most of the ligands identified from peptoid libraries do not display high affinity, with rare exceptions. This may be due, in part, to the lack of chiral centers and conformational constraints in peptoid molecules. Recently, we described a new synthetic route to access peptide tertiary amides (PTAs). PTAs are a superfamily of peptidomimetics that include but are not limited to peptides, peptoids and N-methylated peptides. With side chains on both &#945;-carbon and main chain nitrogen atoms, the conformation of these molecules are greatly constrained by sterical hindrance and allylic 1,3 strain. (Figure 1) Our study suggests that these PTA molecules are highly structured in solution and can be used to identify protein ligands. We believe that these molecules can be a future source of high-affinity protein ligands. Here we describe the synthetic method combining the power of both split-and-pool and sub-monomer strategies to synthesize a sample one-bead one-compound (OBOC) library of PTAs.

Peptide tertiary amides (PTAs) are a superfamily of peptidomimetics that include but are not limited to peptides, peptoids and N-methylated peptides. Here we describe a synthetic method which combines&#160;both split-and-pool and sub-monomer strategies to synthesize a one-bead one-compound library of PTAs.

Peptidomimetics are great sources of protein ligands. The oligomeric nature of these compounds enables us to access large synthetic libraries on solid ...

Manufacturing of Three-dimensionally Microstructured Nanocomposites through Microfluidic Infiltration

Microstructured composite beams reinforced with complex three-dimensionally (3D) patterned nanocomposite microfilaments are fabricated via nanocomposite in&#64257;ltration of 3D interconnected microfluidic networks. The manufacturing of the reinforced beams begins with the fabrication of microfluidic networks, which involves layer-by-layer deposition of fugitive ink filaments using a dispensing robot, filling the empty space between filaments using a low viscosity resin, curing the resin and finally removing the ink.&#160;Self-supported 3D structures with other geometries and many layers (e.g.&#160;a few hundreds layers) could be built using this method. The resulting tubular micro&#64258;uidic networks are then infiltrated with thermosetting nanocomposite suspensions containing nanofillers (e.g.&#160;single-walled carbon nanotubes), and subsequently cured. The infiltration is done by applying a pressure gradient between two ends of the empty network (either by applying a vacuum or vacuum-assisted microinjection). Prior to the infiltration, the nanocomposite suspensions are prepared by dispersing nanofillers into polymer matrices using ultrasonication and three-roll mixing methods. The nanocomposites (i.e.&#160;materials infiltrated) are then solidified under UV exposure/heat cure, resulting in a 3D-reinforced composite structure. The technique presented here enables the design of functional nanocomposite macroscopic products for microengineering applications such as actuators and sensors.

Three-dimensional (3D) microstructured composite beams are fabricated through the directed and localized infiltration of nanocomposites into 3D porous microfluidic networks. The flexibility of this manufacturing method enables the utilization of different thermosetting materials and nanofillers in order to achieve a variety of functional 3D reinforced nanocomposite macroscopic products.

Microstructured composite beams reinforced with complex three-dimensionally (3D) patterned nanocomposite microfilaments are fabricated via nanocomposite ...

Synthesis and Characterization of Functionalized Metal-organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks have attracted extraordinary amounts of research attention, as they are attractive candidates for numerous industrial and technological applications. Their signature property is their ultrahigh porosity, which however imparts a series of challenges when it comes to both constructing them and working with them. Securing desired MOF chemical and physical functionality by linker/node assembly into a highly porous framework of choice can pose difficulties, as less porous and more thermodynamically stable congeners (e.g., other crystalline polymorphs, catenated analogues) are often preferentially obtained by conventional synthesis methods. Once the desired product is obtained, its characterization often requires specialized techniques that address complications potentially arising from, for example, guest-molecule loss or preferential orientation of microcrystallites. Finally, accessing the large voids inside the MOFs for use in applications that involve gases can be problematic, as frameworks may be subject to collapse during removal of solvent molecules (remnants of solvothermal synthesis). In this paper, we describe synthesis and characterization methods routinely utilized in our lab either to solve or circumvent these issues. The methods include solvent-assisted linker exchange, powder X-ray diffraction in capillaries, and materials activation (cavity evacuation) by supercritical CO2 drying. Finally, we provide a protocol for determining a suitable pressure region for applying the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis to nitrogen isotherms, so as to estimate surface area of MOFs with good accuracy.

Synthesis, activation, and characterization of intentionally designed metal-organic framework materials is challenging, especially when building blocks are incompatible or unwanted polymorphs are thermodynamically favored over desired forms. We describe how applications of solvent-assisted linker exchange, powder X-ray diffraction in capillaries and activation via supercritical CO2 drying, can address some of these challenges.

Metal-organic frameworks have attracted extraordinary amounts of research attention, as they are attractive candidates for numerous industrial and ...

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Control over colloidal assembly is of utmost importance for the development of functional colloidal materials with tailored structural and mechanical properties for applications in photonics, drug delivery and coating technology. Here we present a new family of colloidal building blocks, coined supramolecular colloids, whose self-assembly is controlled through surface-functionalization with a benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA) derived supramolecular moiety. Such BTAs interact via directional, strong, yet reversible hydrogen-bonds with other identical BTAs. Herein, a protocol is presented that describes how to couple these BTAs to colloids and how to quantify the number of coupling sites, which determines the multivalency of the supramolecular colloids. Light scattering measurements show that the refractive index of the colloids is almost matched with that of the solvent, which strongly reduces the van der Waals forces between the colloids. Before photo-activation, the colloids remain well dispersed, as the BTAs are equipped with a photo-labile group that blocks the formation of hydrogen-bonds. Controlled deprotection with UV-light activates the short-range hydrogen-bonds between the BTAs, which triggers the colloidal self-assembly. The evolution from the dispersed state to the clustered state is monitored by confocal microscopy. These results are further quantified by image analysis with simple routines using ImageJ and Matlab. This merger of supramolecular chemistry and colloidal science offers a direct route towards light- and thermo-responsive colloidal assembly encoded in the surface-grafted monolayer.

A protocol for the synthesis and characterization of colloids coated with supramolecular moieties is described. These supramolecular colloids undergo self-assembly upon the activation of the hydrogen-bonds between the surface-anchored molecules by UV-light.

Control over colloidal assembly is of utmost importance for the development of functional colloidal materials with tailored structural and mechanical ...

Highly Stable, Functional Hairy Nanoparticles and Biopolymers from Wood Fibers: Towards Sustainable Nanotechnology

Nanoparticles, as one of the key materials in nanotechnology and nanomedicine, have gained significant importance during the past decade. While metal-based nanoparticles are associated with synthetic and environmental hassles, cellulose introduces a green, sustainable alternative for nanoparticle synthesis. Here, we present the chemical synthesis and separation procedures to produce new classes of hairy nanoparticles (bearing both amorphous and crystalline regions) and biopolymers based on wood fibers. Through periodate oxidation of soft wood pulp, the glucose ring of cellulose is opened at the C2-C3 bond to form 2,3-dialdehyde groups. Further heating of the partially oxidized fibers (e.g., T = 80 &#176;C) results in three products, namely fibrous oxidized cellulose, sterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (SNCC), and dissolved dialdehyde modified cellulose (DAMC), which are well separated by intermittent centrifugation and co-solvent addition. The partially oxidized fibers (without heating) were used as a highly reactive intermediate to react with chlorite for converting almost all aldehyde to carboxyl groups. Co-solvent precipitation and centrifugation resulted in electrosterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose (ENCC) and dicarboxylated cellulose (DCC). The aldehyde content of SNCC and consequently surface charge of ENCC (carboxyl content) were precisely controlled by controlling the periodate oxidation reaction time, resulting in highly stable nanoparticles bearing more than 7 mmol functional groups per gram of nanoparticles (e.g., as compared to conventional NCC bearing &#60;&#60; 1 mmol functional group/g). Atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) attested to the rod-like morphology. Conductometric titration, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrokinetic-sonic-amplitude (ESA) and acoustic attenuation spectroscopy shed light on the superior properties of these nanomaterials.

Synthesis schemes to prepare highly stable wood fiber-based hairy nanoparticles and functional cellulose-based biopolymers have been detailed.

Nanoparticles, as one of the key materials in nanotechnology and nanomedicine, have gained significant importance during the past decade. While ...

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for (Oxy)Nitride Phosphors

Nitride and oxynitride (Sialon) phosphors are good candidates for the ultraviolet and visible emission applications. High performance, good stability and flexibility of their emission properties can be achieved by controlling their composition and dopants. However, a lot of work is still required to improve their properties and to reduce the production cost. A possible approach is to correlate the luminescence properties of the Sialon particles with their local structural and chemical environment in order to optimize their growth parameters and find novel phosphors. For such a purpose, the low-voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy is a powerful technique. The use of electron as an excitation source allows detecting most of the luminescence centers, revealing their luminescence distribution spatially and in depth, directly comparing CL results with the other electron-based techniques, and investigating the stability of their luminescence properties under stress. Such advantages for phosphors characterization will be highlighted through examples of investigation on several Sialon phosphors by low-energy CL.

Low-energy Cathodoluminescence for OxyNitride Phosphors

An excellent chemical and luminescence stabilities of (oxy)nitride phosphors present it as an promising alternative to currently used sulfide and oxide phosphors. In this paper, we present the way to investigate its local luminescence properties using low-energy cathodoluminescence (CL).

Nitride and oxynitride (Sialon) phosphors are good candidates for the ultraviolet and visible emission applications. High performance, good stability and ...

Microfluidic-based Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs): A Tool for Continuous Production of COF Fibers and Direct Printing on a Surface

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are a class of porous covalent materials which are frequently synthesized as unprocessable crystalline powders. The first COF was reported in 2005 with much effort centered on the establishment of new synthetic routes for its preparation. To date, most available synthetic methods for COF synthesis are based on bulk mixing under solvothermal conditions. Therefore, there is increasing interest in developing systematic protocols for COF synthesis that provide for fine control over reaction conditions and improve COF processability on surfaces, which is essential for their use in practical applications. Herein, we present a novel microfluidic-based method for COF synthesis where the reaction between two constituent building blocks, 1,3,5-benzenetricarbaldehyde (BTCA) and 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB), takes place under controlled diffusion conditions and at room temperature. Using such an approach yields sponge-like, crystalline fibers of a COF material, hereafter called MF-COF. The mechanical properties of MF-COF and the dynamic nature of the approach allow the continuous production of MF-COF fibers and their direct printing onto surfaces. The general method opens new potential applications requiring advanced printing of 2D or 3D COF structures on flexible or rigid surfaces.

Microfluidic-based Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks COFs: A Tool for Continuous Production of COF Fibers and Direct Printing on a Surface

We present a novel microfluidic-based method for synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs). We demonstrate how this approach can be used to produce continuous COF fibers, and also 2D or 3D COF structures on surfaces.

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are a class of porous covalent materials which are frequently synthesized as unprocessable crystalline powders. The ...

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Physical thermal deposition in a high vacuum environment is a clean and controllable method for fabricating novel molecular nanostructures on graphene. We present methods for depositing and passively manipulating C60 molecules on rippled graphene that advance the pursuit of realizing applications involving 1D C60/graphene hybrid structures. The techniques applied in this exposition are geared towards high vacuum systems with preparation areas capable of supporting molecular deposition as well as thermal annealing of the samples. We focus on C60 deposition at low pressure using a homemade Knudsen cell connected to a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) system. The number of molecules deposited is regulated by controlling the temperature of the Knudsen cell and the deposition time. One-dimensional (1D) C60 chain structures with widths of two to three molecules can be prepared via tuning of the experimental conditions. The surface mobility of the C60 molecules increases with annealing temperature allowing them to move within the periodic potential of the rippled graphene. Using this mechanism, it is possible to control the transition of 1D C60 chain structures to a hexagonal close packed quasi-1D stripe structure.

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Here we present a protocol for the fabrication of C60/graphene hybrid nanostructures by physical thermal evaporation. Particularly, the proper manipulation of deposition and annealing conditions allow the control over the creation of 1D and quasi 1D C60 structures on rippled graphene.

Physical thermal deposition in a high vacuum environment is a clean and controllable method for fabricating novel molecular nanostructures on graphene. We ...

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

This paper focuses on the microfluidic process (and its parameters) to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. The preparation usually consists in the formation of droplets containing low molar mass liquid crystals at elevated temperatures. Subsequently, these particle precursors are oriented in the flow field of the capillary and solidified by a crosslinking polymerization, which produces the final actuating particles. The optimization of the process is necessary to obtain the actuating particles and the proper variation of the process parameters (temperature and flow rate) and allows variations of size and shape (from oblate to strongly prolate morphologies) as well as the magnitude of actuation. In addition, it is possible to vary the type of actuation from elongation to contraction depending on the director profile induced to the droplets during the flow in the capillary, which again depends on the microfluidic process and its parameters. Furthermore, particles of more complex shapes, like core-shell structures or Janus particles, can be prepared by adjusting the setup. By the variation of the chemical structure and the mode of crosslinking (solidification) of the liquid crystalline elastomer, it is also possible to prepare actuating particles triggered by heat or UV-vis irradiation.

This article describes the microfluidic process and parameters to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. This process allows the preparation of actuating particles and the variation of their size and shape (from oblate to strongly prolate, core-shell, and Janus morphologies) as well as the magnitude of actuation.

This paper focuses on the microfluidic process (and its parameters) to prepare actuating particles from liquid crystalline elastomers. The preparation ...

Disentangling High Strength Copolymer Aramid Fibers to Enable the Determination of Their Mechanical Properties

Traditionally, soft body armor has been made from poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. However, to diversify the fiber choices in the United States body armor market, copolymer fibers based on the combination of 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl) benzimidazole (PBIA) and the more conventional PPTA were introduced. Little is known regarding the long-term stability of these fibers, but as condensation polymers, they are expected to have potential sensitivity to moisture and humidity. Therefore, characterizing the strength of the materials and understanding their vulnerability to environmental conditions is important for evaluating their use lifetime in safety applications. Ballistic resistance and other critical structural properties of these fibers are predicated on their strength. To accurately determine the strength of the individual fibers, it is necessary to disentangle them from the yarn without introducing any damage. Three aramid-based copolymer fibers were selected for the study. The fibers were washed with acetone followed by methanol to remove an organic coating that held the individual fibers in each yarn bundle together. This coating makes it difficult to separate single fibers from the yarn bundle for mechanical testing without damaging the fibers and affecting their strength. After washing, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed on both washed and unwashed samples and the results were compared. This experiment has shown that there are no significant variations in the spectra of poly(p-phenylene-benzimidazole-terephthalamide-co-p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PBIA-co-PPTA1) and PBIA-co-PPTA3 after washing, and only a small variation in intensity for PBIA. This indicates that the acetone and methanol rinses are not adversely affecting the fibers and causing chemical degradation. Additionally, single fiber tensile testing was performed on the washed fibers to characterize their initial tensile strength and strain to failure, and compare those to other reported values. Iterative procedural development was necessary to find a successful method for performing tensile testing on these fibers.

The primary goal of the study is to develop a protocol to prepare consistent specimens for accurate mechanical testing of high strength copolymer aramid fibers, by removing a coating and disentangling the individual fiber strands without introducing significant chemical or physical degradation.

Traditionally, soft body armor has been made from poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. However, to ...