Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein
Abstract The pursuit of materials, particularly plastics, with a minimal ecological footprint throughout their circular lifecycle, is crucial for advancing sustainable materials development. Living materials composed of embedded yet active organisms can leverage endogenous biotic resources to achiev...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55097-x |
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| _version_ | 1841559309360562176 |
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| author | Yushu Wang Junqi Wu Emily J. Hartzell Weiguo Hu Reddhy Mahle Xinxin Li Ying Chen Jugal Kishore Sahoo Cameron Chan Brooke N. Longo Charlotte S. Jacobus Chunmei Li David L. Kaplan |
| author_facet | Yushu Wang Junqi Wu Emily J. Hartzell Weiguo Hu Reddhy Mahle Xinxin Li Ying Chen Jugal Kishore Sahoo Cameron Chan Brooke N. Longo Charlotte S. Jacobus Chunmei Li David L. Kaplan |
| author_sort | Yushu Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The pursuit of materials, particularly plastics, with a minimal ecological footprint throughout their circular lifecycle, is crucial for advancing sustainable materials development. Living materials composed of embedded yet active organisms can leverage endogenous biotic resources to achieve functional materials that align with sustainability goals. However, current living material systems face challenges such as weak mechanical properties, limited environmental adaptability, and restricted cellular functionality. In this study, we propose an approach to sustainable living materials by incorporating active organisms into silk-based plastics through a plasticizer-assisted thermal molding process. We investigate the mechanism of structure formation in these materials, correlating manufacturing performance to the resulting secondary structure. These silk-based plastics provide a protective matrix for probiotics, ensuring their survival through the harsh gastrointestinal tract and enhancing intestinal delivery. Similarly, soil rhizobacteria encapsulated within the plastics exhibit long-term protease activity, accelerating plastic degradation upon soil exposure. This work demonstrates the potential of sustainable plastics as a form of living materials, where active organisms are processed, entrapped, retain metabolic functions, and are protected in harsh environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b33487255baf49309299107ede8d5352 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b33487255baf49309299107ede8d53522025-01-05T12:38:40ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-024-55097-xLiving plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk proteinYushu Wang0Junqi Wu1Emily J. Hartzell2Weiguo Hu3Reddhy Mahle4Xinxin Li5Ying Chen6Jugal Kishore Sahoo7Cameron Chan8Brooke N. Longo9Charlotte S. Jacobus10Chunmei Li11David L. Kaplan12Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of MassachusettsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Bioengineering, Northeastern UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts UniversityAbstract The pursuit of materials, particularly plastics, with a minimal ecological footprint throughout their circular lifecycle, is crucial for advancing sustainable materials development. Living materials composed of embedded yet active organisms can leverage endogenous biotic resources to achieve functional materials that align with sustainability goals. However, current living material systems face challenges such as weak mechanical properties, limited environmental adaptability, and restricted cellular functionality. In this study, we propose an approach to sustainable living materials by incorporating active organisms into silk-based plastics through a plasticizer-assisted thermal molding process. We investigate the mechanism of structure formation in these materials, correlating manufacturing performance to the resulting secondary structure. These silk-based plastics provide a protective matrix for probiotics, ensuring their survival through the harsh gastrointestinal tract and enhancing intestinal delivery. Similarly, soil rhizobacteria encapsulated within the plastics exhibit long-term protease activity, accelerating plastic degradation upon soil exposure. This work demonstrates the potential of sustainable plastics as a form of living materials, where active organisms are processed, entrapped, retain metabolic functions, and are protected in harsh environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55097-x |
| spellingShingle | Yushu Wang Junqi Wu Emily J. Hartzell Weiguo Hu Reddhy Mahle Xinxin Li Ying Chen Jugal Kishore Sahoo Cameron Chan Brooke N. Longo Charlotte S. Jacobus Chunmei Li David L. Kaplan Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein Nature Communications |
| title | Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| title_full | Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| title_fullStr | Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| title_full_unstemmed | Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| title_short | Living plastics from plasticizer-assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| title_sort | living plastics from plasticizer assisted thermal molding of silk protein |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55097-x |
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