According to the report of the Physicist Organization Network on May 7, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology’s research team mixed protein fibers with graphene. The new nano-composite paper thus produced is “more versatile†and can memorize shape and measure enzyme activity. Fully biodegradable. The research results were published in the latest issue of Nature-Nanotechnology.
The research team leader, Raphael, professor of food and soft materials science at the university, said that the new type of “paper†consists of alternating stacks of protein and graphene and is vacuum-dried into thin sheets, similar to plain paper made from fibers. way of doing. The production of this new material can be achieved with relatively simple means. In this case, the protein in milk, β-lactoglobulin, is first denatured in an acidic solution at an elevated temperature, and the product in the denaturation process is a protein fiber suspended in water, and these fibrils eventually act as a hydrophobic material. The stabilizer of graphite flakes is finely dispersed in water and then processed into nanocomposites by a simple filtering technique.
This kind of nanocomposite with rare properties and made of different materials combines the advantages of protein fiber and graphene. On the one hand, graphene has the characteristics of strong mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and inherently high water resistance; on the other hand, protein fibers are biologically active and capable of solidifying water. These allow new materials to absorb moisture and change shape under different humidity conditions. When it absorbs water, it can be deformed, and when it is dried it is restored to its original shape. It can be used in water sensors or humidifiers.
The most interesting feature of this material is that it can be used as a biosensor to accurately measure the activity of enzymes. Since enzymes can digest and break down protein fibers, this changes the resistive force of the composite and once the graphene paper is incorporated into the circuit, it can be measured. This feature has inspired researchers to claim "a new method of routinely measuring the activity of enzymes."
The material can also meet other design requirements. For example, the higher the proportion of graphene, the better the conductivity of the material; if more fibers are contained, this material can absorb more moisture and it will increase the deformation as the humidity changes.
Under certain conditions, this method can be extended to use different types of proteins, such as eggs, serum, and soybeans. Researchers have been inspired by previous studies of amyloid fibers and graphene, combining these two components to create such a new "multi-talented" composite. And, the material is completely biodegradable. The researchers said: "Today, graphene paper is no longer a curiosity, and now a new type of synthetic material has been created through the combination of amyloid fibers." (Hua Ling)
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