Biomimetic Silk Nanoparticle Manufacture: Calcium Ion-Mediated Assembly.

ABSTRACT: Silk has emerged as an interesting candidate among protein-based nanocarriers due to its favorable properties, including biocompatibility and a broad spectrum of processing options to tune particle critical quality attributes. The silk protein conformation during storage in the middle silk gland of the silkworm is modulated by various factors, including the most abundant metallic ion, calcium ion (Ca²⁺). Here, we report spiking of liquid silk with calcium ions to modulate the silk nanoparticle size. Conformational and structural analyses of silk demonstrated Ca²⁺-induced silk assemblies that resulted in a liquid crystalline-like state, with the subsequent generation of β-sheet-enriched silk nanoparticles. Thioflavin T studies demonstrated that Ca²⁺ effectiv

SUBMITTER: Roamcharern N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11897946 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature