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>
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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. 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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 ...

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