Jaehyung Park

Bioprocessing of silk proteins-controlling assembly

A model for silk processing in silkworms and spiders is proposed and based on the unique domain structure in the sequences of silk proteins. A hypothesis for the silk-spinning process begins with chain folding at lower concentrations of protein, proceeds through formation of micelles and then micellar aggregates (globules) through water loss and increasing protein concentration, and finally leads to fiber formation due to the phys- ical shear process during fiber spinning. Many aspects of this process can be mimicked in vitro, and the all-aqueous environment used is instructive as a model for polymer processing in general.

Nanomechanical and Microstructural Properties of Bombyx mori Silk Films

Instrumented indentation and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate the mechanical and structural properties of Bombyx mori silk films. Twelve different films were prepared from B. mori silk fibroin protein using a variety of post-deposition processing treatments (e.g. soaking in methanol, soaking in water, stretching, and/or enzymatic etching). The results show that different treatments lead to changes in both the conformation of the silk fibroin protein and the mechanical properties of the films.