Moisture Distribution and Structural Properties of Frozen Cooked Noodles with NaCl and Kansui

The effects of NaCl (1–3%) and kansui (0.5–1.5%) on the quality of frozen cooked noodles (FCNs) were investigated, which provided a reference for alleviating the quality deterioration of FCNs. Textural testing illustrated that the optimal tensile properties were observed in 2% NaCl (N-2) and the maximum hardness and chewiness were reached at 1% kansui (K-1). Compared to NaCl, the water absorption and cooking loss of recooked FCNs increased significantly with increasing kansui levels (p < 0.05). Rheological results confirmed NaCl and kansui improved the resistance to deformation and recovery ability of thawed dough; K-1 especially had the highest dough strength. SEM showed N-2 induced a more elongated fibrous protein network that contributed to the extensibility, while excessive levels of kansui formed a deformed membrane-like gluten network that increased the solid loss. Moisture analysis revealed that N-2 reduced the free water content, while K-1 had the lowest freezable water content and highest binding capacity for deeply adsorbed water. The N-2 and K-1 induced more ordered protein secondary structures with stronger intermolecular disulfide bonds, which were maximally improved in K-1. This study provides more comprehensive theories for the strengthening effect of NaCl and kansui on FCNs quality.

Nano-Bio-Engineered Silk Matrix based Sensing Devices for Molecular Bioanalysis

Silk is a fibrous protein, has been a part of human lives for centuries and was used as suture and textile material. Silk is mainly produced by members of certain arthropods such as spiders, butterflies, mites, and moths. However, recent biotechnological advances have revolutionized silk as a biomaterial for various applications ranging from diverse sensors to robust fibers. The biocompatibility, mechanical resilience, and biodegradability of the material make it a suitable candidate for biomaterials. Silk can also be easily converted into several morphological forms, including fibers, films, sponges, and hydrogels. Provided these abilities, silk has received excellent traction from scientists worldwide for various developments, one of them being its use as a bio-sensor. The diversity of silk materials offers various options, giving scientists the freedom to choose from and personalize them as per their needs. In this review, we foremost look upon the composition, production, properties, and various morphologies of silk. The numerous applications of silk and its derivatives for fabricating biosensors to detect small molecules, macromolecules, and cells have been explored comprehensively. Also, the data from various globally developed sensors using silk have been described into organized tables for each category of molecules, along with their important analytical details.

Fibrous Scaffolds From Elastin-Based Materials

Current cutting-edge strategies in biomaterials science are focused on mimicking the design of natural systems which, over millions of years, have evolved to exhibit extraordinary properties. Based on this premise, one of the most challenging tasks is to imitate the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), due to its ubiquitous character and its crucial role in tissue integrity. The anisotropic fibrillar architecture of the ECM has been reported to have a significant influence on cell behaviour and function. A new paradigm that pivots around the idea of incorporating biomechanical and biomolecular cues into the design of biomaterials and systems for biomedical applications has emerged in recent years. Indeed, current trends in materials science address the development of innovative biomaterials that include the dynamics, biochemistry and structural features of the native ECM. In this context, one of the most actively studied biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications are nanofiber-based scaffolds. Herein we provide a broad overview of the current status, challenges, manufacturing methods and applications of nanofibers based on elastin-based materials. Starting from an introduction to elastin as an inspiring fibrous protein, as well as to the natural and synthetic elastin-based biomaterials employed to meet the challenge of developing ECM-mimicking nanofibrous-based scaffolds, this review will follow with a description of the leading strategies currently employed in nanofibrous systems production, which in the case of elastin-based materials are mainly focused on supramolecular self-assembly mechanisms and the use of advanced manufacturing technologies. Thus, we will explore the tendency of elastin-based materials to form intrinsic fibers, and the self-assembly mechanisms involved. We will describe the function and self-assembly mechanisms of silk-like motifs, antimicrobial peptides and leucine zippers when incorporated into the backbone of the elastin-based biomaterial. Advanced polymer-processing technologies, such as electrospinning and additive manufacturing, as well as their specific features, will be presented and reviewed for the specific case of elastin-based nanofiber manufacture. Finally, we will present our perspectives and outlook on the current challenges facing the development of nanofibrous ECM-mimicking scaffolds based on elastin and elastin-like biomaterials, as well as future trends in nanofabrication and applications.

Interfacial Modeling of Fibrinogen Adsorption onto LiNbO3 Single Crystal–Single Domain Surfaces

For the development of next-generation protein-based biosensor surfaces, it is important to understand how functional proteins, such as fibrinogen (FBG), interact with polar substrate surfaces in order to prepare highly sensitive points of medical care diagnostics. FBG, which is a fibrous protein with an extracellular matrix, has both positively and negatively charged regions on its 3-dimensional surface, which makes interpreting how it effectively binds to polarized surfaces challenging. In this study, single-crystal LiNbO3 (LNO) substrates that have surface charges were used to investigate the adsorption of FBG protruding polar fragments on the positively and negatively charged LNO surfaces. We performed a combination of experiments and multi-scale molecular modeling to understand the binding of FBG in vacuum and water-solvated surfaces of LNO. XPS measurements showed that the FBG adsorption on LNO increased with increment in solution concentration on surfaces independent of charges. Multi-scale molecular modeling employing Quantum Mechanics, Monte Carlo, and Molecular Mechanics addressed the phenomenon of FBG fragment bonding on LNO surfaces. The binding simulation validated the experimental observation using zeta potential measurements which showed presence of solvated medium influenced the adsorption phenomenon due to the negative surface potential.

Oxygen Permeability of Silk Fibroin Hydrogels and Their Use as Materials for Contact Lenses: A Purposeful Analysis

Fibroin is a fibrous protein that can be conveniently isolated from the silk cocoons produced by the larvae of Bombyx mori silk moth. In its form as a hydrogel, Bombyx mori silk fibroin (BMSF) has been employed in a variety of biomedical applications. When used as substrates for biomaterial-cells constructs in tissue engineering, the oxygen transport characteristics of the BMSF membranes have proved so far to be adequate. However, over the past three decades the BMSF hydrogels have been proposed episodically as materials for the manufacture of contact lenses, an application that depends on substantially elevated oxygen permeability. This review will show that the literature published on the oxygen permeability of BMSF is both limited and controversial. Additionally, there is no evidence that contact lenses made from BMSF have ever reached commercialization. The existing literature is discussed critically, leading to the conclusion that BMSF hydrogels are unsuitable as materials for contact lenses, while also attempting to explain the scarcity of data regarding the oxygen permeability of BMSF. To the author’s knowledge, this review covers all publications related to the topic.

Extraction and Characterization of Keratin from Chicken and Swiftlet Feather

Keratin is a durable and fibrous protein of hair, nails, horns, hoofs, feathers and the epithelial cells in the outermost layers of the skin. Keratin in animals mainly presents in vertebrates such as mammals, birds and reptiles including chicken and swiftlet. This study aims to characterize keratin extracted from chicken and swiftlet feathers. The extraction of the keratin performed using dimethyl sufoxide (DMSO) at high temperature. The extracted keratin from both samples were used for the characterization process using Bradford protein assay, CHNS analysis and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This study showed that keratin extract of swiftlet feather showed higher protein concentration (0.813 mg/mL) than keratin extract of chicken feather (0.646 mg/ml). The highest composition for keratin extract is hydrogen which are 4.97% for keratin extract from swiftlet feathers and 3.12% for keratin extract from chicken feathers. FTIR analysis exhibited that carboxyl groups and amino groups are presence in both keratin samples however, the protein value is higher in swiftlet feathers compared to chicken feathers. This study's outcome is significant in discovering keratin extract from swiftlet feathers containing high protein content due to the breakdown of disulfide bonds. Furthermore, this research is the first report on keratin characterization from swiftlet feathers that would be useful for high value future keratin study.

Biological Degradation of Keratin by Microbial Keratinase for Effective Waste Management and Potent Industrial Applications

: Enzymes are the biocatalysts synthesized by living organisms having high specificity, catalytic activity, and a broad range of applicability. One such biotechnologicaly relevant enzyme is keratinase with various industrial application that captures a significant place in the enzyme market. It belongs to the proteolytic enzyme group that cleaves the highly stable and fibrous protein, keratin through hydrolysis. Keratins are hard- corrupting sinewy proteins insoluble in natural solvents and water. It is frequently aggregated in nature and expressively present in the plumes, hair, nail, horn, skins, feet, etc. The maximum range of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes have been accounted for producing keratinases with significant biotechnological applications. Successful application of this group of enzymes have been seen in various industries such as farming, laundry detergent, cosmetics, animal feed, pharmaceutical, leather, and textile. Moreover they have found remarkable usability in environmentally friendly waste management also. This paper focuses on the structure, sources, and various applications of this industrially important enzyme.

MnO2-capped silk fibroin (SF) nanoparticles with chlorin e6 (Ce6) encapsulation for augmented photo-driven therapy by modulating tumor microenvironment

Silk fibroin (SF), derived from Bombyx mori, is a category of fibrous protein with outstanding potential for being applied in biomedical and biotechnological fields. In spite of many advantageous properties,...