Extensible and self-recoverable proteinaceous materials derived from scallop byssal thread

Xiaokang Zhang, Mengkui Cui, Shuoshuo Wang, Fei Han, Pingping Xu, Luyao Teng, Hang Zhao, Ping Wang, Guichu Yue, Yong Zhao, Guangfeng Liu, Ke Li, Jicong Zhang, Xiaoping Liang, Yingying Zhang, Zhiyuan Liu (), Chao Zhong () and Weizhi Liu ()
Additional contact information
Xiaokang Zhang: Ocean University of China
Mengkui Cui: ShanghaiTech University
Shuoshuo Wang: Ocean University of China
Fei Han: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Pingping Xu: Ocean University of China
Luyao Teng: Ocean University of China
Hang Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ping Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guichu Yue: Beihang University
Yong Zhao: Beihang University
Guangfeng Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ke Li: ShanghaiTech University
Jicong Zhang: ShanghaiTech University
Xiaoping Liang: Tsinghua University
Yingying Zhang: Tsinghua University
Zhiyuan Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chao Zhong: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Weizhi Liu: Ocean University of China

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Biologically derived and biologically inspired fibers with outstanding mechanical properties have found attractive technical applications across diverse fields. Despite recent advances, few fibers can simultaneously possess high-extensibility and self-recovery properties especially under wet conditions. Here, we report protein-based fibers made from recombinant scallop byssal proteins with outstanding extensibility and self-recovery properties. We initially investigated the mechanical properties of the native byssal thread taken from scallop Chlamys farreri and reveal its high extensibility (327 ± 32%) that outperforms most natural biological fibers. Combining transcriptome and proteomics, we select the most abundant scallop byssal protein type 5-2 (Sbp5-2) in the thread region, and produce a recombinant protein consisting of 7 tandem repeat motifs (rTRM7) of the Sbp5-2 protein. Applying an organic solvent-enabled drawing process, we produce bio-inspired extensible rTRM7 fiber with high-extensibility (234 ± 35%) and self-recovery capability in wet condition, recapitulating the hierarchical structure and mechanical properties of the native scallop byssal thread. We further show that the mechanical properties of rTRM7 fiber are highly regulated by hydrogen bonding and intermolecular crosslinking formed through disulfide bond and metal-carboxyl coordination. With its outstanding mechanical properties, rTRM7 fiber can also be seamlessly integrated with graphene to create motion sensors and electrophysiological signal transmission electrode.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30415-3

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