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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
