Artificial biocomposites of silk fibroin and amyloid fibrils

Researchers have combined two widely-studied fibrous protein assemblies – silk fibroin fibrils and amyloid fibrils – into a novel composite material. By varying the weight ratio of the two components, mechanical properties could be tuned: more amyloid fibril increased tensile modulus whereas more silk fibroin promotes tougher composites. The amyloid component could be enzymatically removed to generate a porous silk membrane.  Inorganic components were also added and a shape memory effect observed.  

Modulating Materials by Orthogonally Oriented β-Strands: Composites of Amyloid and Silk Fibroin Fibrils; S. Ling et al; Advanced Materials; DOI: 10.1002/adma.201400730

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201400730/abstract

How cells change nanoparticles

The protein corona surrounding nanoparticles exposed to biological cells changes according to nanoparticle characteristics, cell type and length of exposure, studies show.  These changes alter nanoparticle aggregation, cell membrane affinity, uptake and retention.  Results suggest nanoparticles have an ever-changing biological ‘identity’ as they travel through numerous microenvironments in the body.

Secreted Biomolecules Alter the Biological Identity and Cellular Interactions of Nanoparticles; A. Albanese et al; ACS Nano; DOI: 10.1021/nn4061012 

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn4061012