Dual-Performance Optimized Silks from Ultra-Low Dose Polymer Dots Feeding and Its Absorption, Distribution and Excretion in the Silkworms

Jingru Li; Yuqiao Li; Shuting Lu; Juxiang Zhang; Chunfu Zhang; Liqin Xiong

doi:10.1007/s42765-022-00147-6

Advanced Fiber Materials ›› 2022, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (4) : 845 -858. DOI: 10.1007/s42765-022-00147-6

Research Article

Dual-Performance Optimized Silks from Ultra-Low Dose Polymer Dots Feeding and Its Absorption, Distribution and Excretion in the Silkworms

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¹Shanghai Med-X Engineering Center for Medical Equipment and Technology, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200030, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

^f xiongliqin@sjtu.edu.cn

Jingru Li

is currently a Ph.D. student of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research content is the preparation of modified silks and brown adipose tissue imaging by using Pdots.

Yuqiao Li

received her M.S degree from Beijing Normal University in 2019. She is currently a Ph.D. student of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research content is Pdots imaging the lymphatic system of the brain.

Shuting Lu

received her M.S. degree from Northeast Forestry University in 2020. Now she is a Ph.D. student of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research content is Pdots imaging the nerve.

Juxiang Zhang

received her M.S degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2021. She is currently a Ph.D. student of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Her research content is the effect of Pdots in mammalian early embryo development and maternal health.

Chunfu Zhang

obtained his Ph.D degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2002. He is a professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He has long been engaged in multimodal nano-molecular imaging probe technology, tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Liqin Xiong

obtained her Ph.D degree from Fudan University in 2010. She is a tenured associate professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She has long been engaged in functional fluorescent Pdots and their applications.

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Abstract

Fluorescent polymer dots (Pdots) have the advantages of excellent optical properties, great biocompatibility and high photostability. Herein, we feed ultra-low doses Pdots to silkworms for the first time and aim to prepare dual-performance modified silks. After Pdots feeding, the fluorescence signal of cocoons and degummed silks increases significantly, which is more stable and more uniform than that of post-treatment silks. Moreover, Pdots hinder the conformation transformation of silk fibroin and improve the mechanical property of twisted silk strand. The highest elongation at break point is 20.75 ± 0.03% and breaking strength is 271.7 ± 3.8 MPa. With excellent fluorescence and mechanical properties, the optimized silks are successfully applied as a scaffold for cell culture and imaging. Furthermore, we investigate the metabolism of Pdots in the silkworms for understanding the behaviours of Pdots in the process of silks synthesis and secretion.

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Jingru Li, Yuqiao Li, Shuting Lu, Juxiang Zhang, Chunfu Zhang, Liqin Xiong. Dual-Performance Optimized Silks from Ultra-Low Dose Polymer Dots Feeding and Its Absorption, Distribution and Excretion in the Silkworms. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2022, 4(4): 845-858 DOI:10.1007/s42765-022-00147-6