Structural evolution of regenerated silk fibroin under shear: Combined wide- and small-angle x-ray scattering experiments using synchrotron radiation

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 2004 · Biopolymers

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bip.20083· OSTI ID:989514

Rossle, Manfred ^[1]; Panine, Pierre ^[2]; Urban, Volker S ^[3]; Riekel, Christine ^[2]

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1. European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), France
2. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
3. ORNL

The structural evolution of regenerated Bombyx mori silk fibroin during shearing with a Couette cell has been studied in situ by synchrotron radiation small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering techniques. An elongation of fibroin molecules was observed with increasing shear rate, followed by an aggregation phase. The aggregates were found to be amorphous with {beta}-conformation according to infrared spectroscopy. Scanning x-ray microdiffraction with a 5 {micro}m beam on aggregated material, which had solidified in air, showed silk II reflections and a material with equatorial reflections close to the silk I structure reflections, but with strong differences in reflection intensities. This silk I type material shows up to two low-angle peaks suggesting the presence of water molecules that might be intercalated between hydrogen-bonded sheets.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 989514
• Journal Information: Biopolymers, Journal Name: Biopolymers Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 74; ISSN 1097-0282; ISSN 0006-3525
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
AIR
ELONGATION
REFLECTION
SCATTERING
SHEAR
SILKWORM
SPECTROSCOPY
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
WATER