In-situ observation of silk nanofibril assembly via graphene plasmonic infrared sensor

Chenchen Wu, Yu Duan, Lintao Yu, Yao Hu, Chenxi Zhao, Chunwang Ji, Xiangdong Guo, Shu Zhang, Xiaokang Dai, Puyi Ma, Qian Wang (), Shengjie Ling (), Xiaoxia Yang () and Qing Dai ()
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Chenchen Wu: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Yu Duan: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Lintao Yu: ShanghaiTech University
Yao Hu: University of Science and Technology of China
Chenxi Zhao: ShanghaiTech University
Chunwang Ji: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Xiangdong Guo: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Shu Zhang: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Xiaokang Dai: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Puyi Ma: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Qian Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Shengjie Ling: ShanghaiTech University
Xiaoxia Yang: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology
Qing Dai: National Center for Nanoscience and Technology

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Silk nanofibrils (SNFs), the fundamental building blocks of silk fibers, endow them with exceptional properties. However, the intricate mechanism governing SNF assembly, a process involving both protein conformational transitions and protein molecule conjunctions, remains elusive. This lack of understanding has hindered the development of artificial silk spinning techniques. In this study, we address this challenge by employing a graphene plasmonic infrared sensor in conjunction with multi-scale molecular dynamics (MD). This unique approach allows us to probe the secondary structure of nanoscale assembly intermediates (0.8–6.2 nm) and their morphological evolution. It also provides insights into the dynamics of silk fibroin (SF) over extended molecular timeframes. Our novel findings reveal that amorphous SFs undergo a conformational transition towards β-sheet-rich oligomers on graphene. These oligomers then connect to evolve into SNFs. These insights provide a comprehensive picture of SNF assembly, paving the way for advancements in biomimetic silk spinning.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49076-5

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