Preparation method of planar waveguide

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of optical devices, in particular to a preparation method of a planar waveguide. The method comprises the following steps: adding a silk protein solution into a preset printing device; the preset printing device comprises a nozzle and a moving platform; the nozzle is arranged on the moving platform, and the moving platform can drive the nozzle to freely move in a space range; injecting silk protein ink into the cross-linking solution based on a nozzle for curing treatment to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure; wherein the cross-linking solution is a methanol solution with a preset concentration; and drying the initial planar waveguide structure under the conditions of preset temperature and preset humidity to obtain the planar waveguide. Through the treatment, accurate deposition of the silk protein ink is realized, the prepared planar waveguide structure is finer and more accurate, bonding among silk protein molecules is enhanced, and the stability and the mechanical strength are improved, so that the silk protein planar waveguide can be realized, and the biocompatibility of the planar waveguide is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of optical device preparation, and in particular to a method for preparing a planar waveguide. Background Art

[0002] Planar waveguides play a central role in the field of optoelectronics. They are indispensable components in a variety of systems such as optical communications, biomedical detection, and optical sensors. Planar waveguides enable efficient optical signal transmission and processing by guiding light waves to propagate in a specific plane.

[0003] Existing planar waveguides are usually made from semiconductor materials, which have the problem of insufficient biocompatibility, limiting the application of planar waveguides in the biomedical field. At the same time, the traditional planar waveguide manufacturing processes such as photolithography are complex, resulting in low production efficiency and increased costs. In addition, these technologies have limited manufacturing capabilities on flexible substrates, which hinders the application of planar waveguides in emerging technology fields such as wearable devices and flexible sensors. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a method for preparing a planar waveguide.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a method for preparing a planar waveguide, the method comprising:

[0006] Adding silk protein ink to a preset printing device; the preset printing device includes a nozzle and a moving platform; the nozzle is arranged on the moving platform, and the moving platform can drive the nozzle to move freely within a spatial range;

[0007] The silk protein ink is injected into a cross-linking solution through a nozzle for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure; wherein the cross-linking solution is a methanol solution of a preset concentration;

[0008] Under preset temperature and preset humidity conditions, the initial planar waveguide structure is dried to obtain a planar waveguide.

[0009] In some optional embodiments, the preset concentration is 70%-90%.

[0010] In some optional embodiments, the silk protein ink is injected into a cross-linking solution through a nozzle for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure, including:

[0011] The silk protein ink is injected onto the substrate based on the nozzle;

[0012] The substrate is immersed in a cross-linking solution for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure.

[0013] The silk protein ink is injected onto the substrate based on the nozzle, including:

[0014] The silk protein ink is injected onto the substrate based on the nozzle at a preset pressure and a preset speed.

[0015] In some optional embodiments, the preset pressure is 20 kPa to 70 kPa;

[0016] In some optional embodiments, the preset speed is 0.1 mm / s to 5 mm / s.

[0017] In some optional embodiments, the preset temperature is -32°C to -12°C, and the preset humidity is less than or equal to 35%.

[0018] In some optional embodiments, the silk protein ink is prepared by the following method:

[0019] Adding silk into a degumming solution for degumming to obtain degummed silk;

[0020] adding the degummed silk into a dissociation solution for dissolution to obtain a silk protein solution;

[0021] The silk protein solution is dialyzed to obtain silk protein ink.

[0022] In some optional embodiments, the dissociation solution is one of zinc chloride solution, lithium thiocyanate solution, calcium chloride solution, ethanol solution, lithium bromide solution, or a combination of several of them.

[0023] In some optional embodiments, before the initial planar waveguide structure is dried under preset temperature and preset humidity conditions to obtain the planar waveguide, the method further includes:

[0024] The initial planar waveguide is cleaned with deionized water; the cleaned initial planar waveguide is used to obtain a planar waveguide.

[0025] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a planar waveguide, which is prepared based on the planar waveguide preparation method as described above.

[0026] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application has the following technical effects:

[0027] The method for preparing the planar waveguide described in the embodiment of the present application is by adding silk protein ink to a preset printing device, the preset printing device includes a nozzle and a mobile platform, the nozzle is arranged on the mobile platform, and the mobile platform can drive the nozzle to move freely within the spatial range to achieve accurate deposition of silk protein ink, so that the prepared planar waveguide structure is more refined and more accurate. Based on the nozzle, the silk protein ink is injected into the cross-linking solution for curing treatment to obtain the initial planar waveguide structure. The cross-linking solution is a methanol solution of a preset concentration, and the bonding between the silk protein molecules is enhanced by the cross-linking treatment, and its stability and mechanical strength are improved, so that the silk protein planar waveguide can be realized, and the biocompatibility of the planar waveguide is improved. Under the conditions of preset temperature and preset humidity, the initial planar waveguide structure is dried to obtain the final planar waveguide, which also ensures that the planar waveguide is structurally intact and stable under extreme conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions and advantages in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 It is a schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a planar waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another method for preparing a planar waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 3 is a scanning electron microscope image of a planar waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] The following is a supplementary description of the attached drawings:

[0033] 10-silk cocoon; 11-degummed silk; 20-dialysis container; 30-centrifuge; 40-nozzle; 50-initial planar waveguide; 51-planar waveguide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0035] It should be noted that the "one embodiment" or "embodiment" referred to in the specification of the embodiment of the present application refers to a specific feature, structure or characteristic that can be included in at least one implementation of the present application. It should be understood that in the specification and claims of the embodiment of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings, the orientation or position relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", etc. is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. The terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, the features defined as "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Moreover, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described here can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described here. In addition, in the description of the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system or product including a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0036] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages disclosed in the embodiments of the present application more clearly understood, the embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the embodiments of the present application and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present application.

[0037] Planar waveguides have shown potential for application in many fields, especially in biomedicine and optoelectronics. In the biomedical field, this waveguide is highly flexible and biocompatible, making it suitable for the manufacture of optoelectronic integrated neural probes. This probe can be used for precise biosensing and neural activity monitoring, providing a new tool for studying the function of the nervous system and disease diagnosis. In addition, the biodegradability and biocompatibility of silk protein waveguides also make them have great potential in applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering. In the optoelectronics field, silk protein waveguides can be used in the manufacture of integrated optical devices, providing a new material option for optical communications and optical information processing.

[0038] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1is a schematic diagram of a process for preparing a planar waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the method for preparing the planar waveguide includes:

[0039] S101: adding the silk protein solution into a preset printing device, wherein the preset printing device comprises a nozzle and a moving platform, wherein the nozzle is arranged on the moving platform, and the moving platform can drive the nozzle to move freely within a spatial range.

[0040] When the nozzle prints the silk protein ink to build the waveguide structure, it relies on the precise support and guidance of the mobile platform. The precision control system of the mobile platform controls the nozzle to move accurately along the preset path in three-dimensional space, spray ink with high precision, follow the design structure of the planar waveguide, and accurately spray the silk protein ink, thereby achieving the preparation accuracy of the planar waveguide structure. Through this precise control, the mobile platform not only ensures the flexibility and repeatability of the printing process, but also ensures that the quality of the final product meets high standards.

[0041] In some optional embodiments, the preset printing device further includes a receiving chamber, and the nozzle is connected to the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber can accurately control the flow of fluid. The receiving chamber can be a syringe, a micro pump or other high-precision pumping equipment. The protein ink is arranged in the receiving chamber and can be ejected from the nozzle at a preset ejection speed.

[0042] In some optional embodiments, the mobile platform can be a three-axis micro-positioning platform, which is a precise mobile platform that provides support and precise movement capability for the nozzle of the printed waveguide. The three-axis micro-positioning platform can realize independent control of the three axes of XYZ, can realize precise position control, and ensure high repeatability and reliability of operation. The three-axis micro-positioning platform can be controlled by a controller. For example, the user inputs the relevant parameters of the waveguide through the controller input interface. The relevant parameters may be the thickness of the waveguide, the cross-sectional shape, the length of the waveguide, etc. The controller controls the three-axis micro-positioning platform to move precisely in the three axes of X, Y, and Z according to the parameters input by the user, so that the printed waveguide meets the design requirements.

[0043] In some optional embodiments, the three-axis micro-positioning stage further includes a sensor. The sensor may be a high-resolution position sensor, including a position sensor, a speed sensor, etc. These sensors monitor the position of the mobile platform at any time to ensure that the waveguide is accurately printed.

[0044] In the embodiment of the present application, the silk protein ink is prepared by the following method: adding silk into a degumming solution for degumming treatment to obtain degummed silk.

[0045] Silk is obtained from silk cocoons. The main purpose of degumming silk is to remove sericin from silk fibers, which is a protein wrapped around the outside of the silk fibroin, which plays a role in protecting and bonding the silk fibroin. The main thing left after degumming is fibroin. The degumming process can improve the softness and luster of the silk. At the same time, the fibroin after degumming is purer and has better physical and chemical properties. It can be used in the medical, bioengineering and textile industries.

[0046] In some optional embodiments, the degumming solution can be an organic acid solution, such as citric acid, etc. The degumming with an organic acid solution can be carried out at a lower temperature to reduce the thermal damage to the silk fibroin. It can also be an alkali solution, such as a concentrated sodium carbonate solution, which can effectively remove sericin. It can also be a biological enzyme solution, such as a protease solution. The biological enzyme degumming uses a specific enzyme to decompose and remove sericin. This process reduces the use of chemical reagents and reduces environmental pollution. It can also be a neutral salt solution, such as a zinc chloride solution, a lithium thiocyanate solution, a calcium nitrate solution, a calcium carbonate solution, a calcium phosphate solution, a lithium bromide solution, and a calcium chloride solution. Using a neutral salt solution for degumming will not denature the protein, thereby ensuring the biological activity and function of the protein.

[0047] In some optional embodiments, the degumming method may also be an ultrasonic treatment method. The silk cocoons are degummed under the action of ultrasound, and the mechanical vibration and cavitation effect generated by ultrasound will continuously impact the sericin, causing it to peel off from the silk surface.

[0048] In some optional embodiments, the degummed silk is rinsed with clean water or a neutral buffer solution until the washing liquid becomes clear, so as to remove the residual degumming solution and dissolved sericin.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present application, the degumming solution is a 0.02 mol / L sodium carbonate solution. This alkaline environment helps to decompose and dissolve sericin, thereby achieving degumming of silk. The degumming method is to degumming after boiling. This temperature range can accelerate the degumming reaction. The degumming time is 15min-60min, ensuring that there is enough time for the degumming reaction to fully proceed, so as to achieve the purpose of removing sericin while maintaining the integrity and functionality of silk fibroin.

[0050] The degummed silk is added to a dissociation solution for dissolution to obtain a silk protein solution. After dissolution, the silk fibroin in the silk is extracted from the fiber to form a silk protein solution that can be used for further processing and application.

[0051] In some optional embodiments, the dissociation solution is one or a combination of zinc chloride solution, lithium thiocyanate solution, calcium chloride solution, ethanol solution, lithium bromide solution, etc. These dissociation solutions can destroy the hydrogen bonds between silk fibroin molecules and dissolve them into solutions.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present application, the dissociation solution is a 9.3 mol / L lithium bromide solution. Lithium bromide can produce high concentrations of ions in the solution, which helps to destroy the hydrogen bonds between silk fibroin molecules, thereby promoting their dissolution. The dissolution temperature is 40°C to 80°C, providing a mild thermal environment, while increasing the dissolution rate and avoiding protein denaturation or degradation that may be caused by excessively high temperatures. The dissolution time is 120min-360min, and this time range allows the silk fibroin to fully dissociate and dissolve.

[0053] In some optional embodiments, after the dissociation is completed, the concentration of the silk protein solution is adjusted to 15 wt % to 25 wt % so that the silk protein solution has suitable viscosity and fluidity to facilitate subsequent dialysis.

[0054] In some optional embodiments, the method for adjusting the concentration of the silk protein solution is: obtaining a dilution by adding water, or obtaining a concentrated solution by natural air drying, or obtaining a concentrated solution by reverse dialysis, or obtaining a concentrated solution by vacuum centrifugation.

[0055] The silk fibroin solution is dialyzed to remove the solvent used to dissolve the silk fibroin, such as lithium bromide, and improve the purity of the solution, thereby obtaining silk fibroin ink.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present application, the silk protein solution with adjusted concentration is dialyzed to remove salt in the solution. The dialysis can be performed using a dialysis container, which is usually made of a semipermeable membrane material, such as cellulose, polyethersulfone, polysulfone, etc. The dialysis container can be a dialysis box or a dialysis bag.

[0057] In actual operation, the silk protein solution is first loaded into the dialysis container. The molecular weight cutoff of the dialysis container is related to the molecular weight of the dissociation solution used and the molecular weight of the silk protein solution. The molecular weight cutoff needs to be much lower than the molecular weight of the silk protein in the silk protein solution, so that the silk protein can be effectively retained during the dialysis process. At the same time, the molecular weight cutoff must be higher than the small molecules in the dissociation solution to ensure that these impurities can pass through the membrane smoothly and be removed. Subsequently, the dialysis container containing the silk protein solution is immersed in a container containing a large amount of deionized water or an appropriate buffer. The volume of the dialysate must be large enough to ensure that there is enough space for small molecules to diffuse and maintain the efficiency and speed of the dialysis process. As the dialysis process proceeds, small molecular salts and impurities will gradually diffuse into the dialysate through the dialysis membrane, while the large molecular weight of silk protein cannot pass through the dialysis membrane and is therefore effectively retained. This process needs to be completed within a certain period of time, usually a few days, during which the dialysis fluid needs to be replaced regularly to ensure the dialysis efficiency, reduce the concentration of impurities in the dialysis fluid, and maintain the dialysis gradient.

[0058] In some optional embodiments, the dialysis time is 48h-96h.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present application, the dissociation solution is a lithium bromide solution of a preset concentration, and the concentration of the silk protein solution is 15wt% to 25wt%. At this concentration, the molecular weight of the silk protein is 150k-300k Daltons, and the molecular weight cutoff of the dialysis container is greater than the molecular weight of lithium bromide and less than the molecular weight of the silk protein. That is, the molecular weight cutoff is greater than the molecular weight of lithium bromide 86.84 Daltons and less than the molecular weight of the silk protein 150k Daltons. In practical applications, considering cost reduction, a dialysis box with a molecular weight cutoff of 3500 can be used.

[0060] In some optional embodiments, in order to maintain the stability of the silk protein solution, an appropriate amount of stabilizer can be added during the dialysis process.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present application, the stabilizer can be a polymer solution, such as a 15wt% polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution (molecular weight 8000g / mol), and the molecular weight cutoff of the dialysis instrument is 3500 Daltons. The polyethylene glycol solution can reduce interfacial tension, increase solubility, and prevent protein aggregation, thereby ensuring that the silk protein remains stable under mild dialysis conditions, avoiding precipitation or denaturation caused by environmental changes, thereby improving the solubility and processing properties of the silk protein, and providing a high-quality silk protein solution for subsequent biomedical applications. The 15wt% polyethylene glycol solution can provide a high-viscosity environment, which can not only prevent aggregation between silk protein molecules, maintain the dissolved state of silk protein, and prevent precipitation, but also help maintain the stability of silk protein and prevent silk protein from inactivating.

[0062] In some optional embodiments, the dialysis is performed twice or more to ensure that salts and other small molecules are completely removed.

[0063] In some optional embodiments, the silk protein solution that has been dialyzed once can also be centrifuged. The silk protein solution after the first dialyzation is centrifuged twice for 20 minutes at 5°C to 10°C. This temperature not only effectively avoids protein denaturation and inactivation that may be caused by high temperature, but also significantly reduces the aggregation tendency of proteins and other macromolecules, thereby significantly improving the purity of the silk protein solution. In addition, the 20-minute centrifugation time not only ensures that undissolved impurities and aggregates have enough time to settle, but also avoids the potential impact on the sample caused by too long centrifugation time, ensuring that the silk protein is efficiently separated and purified while maintaining its natural conformation. The solution after the second centrifugation is transferred to a dialysis container for secondary dialysis.

[0064] In some optional embodiments, the silk protein ink may also be tested by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or dynamic light scattering techniques to ensure the purity and stability of the silk protein ink.

[0065] S103: injecting the silk protein ink into the cross-linking solution through the nozzle for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure.

[0066] First, the cross-linking treatment connects the silk protein molecular chains by forming new chemical bonds (such as amide bonds, ether bonds, etc.), which enhances the interaction between protein molecules and makes them less likely to denature or degrade when facing environmental changes (such as temperature fluctuations and pH changes). Second, the cross-linked silk protein ink exhibits higher mechanical strength, which can ensure the integrity and durability of the printed structure.

[0067] In addition, when planar waveguides are used in vivo, cross-linking treatment can also reduce the degradation products of silk protein ink in the body, improve the biocompatibility of silk protein ink, help reduce the immune response of the organism, and improve the compatibility and safety of the material in the body.

[0068] In some optional embodiments, the cross-linking solution is a methanol solution of a preset concentration.

[0069] In some optional embodiments, the preset concentration is 70%-90%. The methanol solution of the preset concentration can effectively promote the cross-linking reaction of the silk protein, thereby solidifying to form an initial planar waveguide structure.

[0070] As an embodiment, the preset concentration of the methanol solution is 86%. At this concentration, the reaction speed of the cross-linking reaction between the silk protein ink and methanol is moderate, and while the cross-linking reaction is fully carried out, the structural unevenness caused by excessive cross-linking can be prevented.

[0071] In some optional embodiments, the silk protein ink is injected into the cross-linking ink based on the nozzle for curing treatment to obtain the initial planar waveguide structure, including the following steps: the silk protein ink is injected onto the substrate based on the nozzle, and the substrate is immersed in the cross-linking solution for curing treatment to obtain the initial planar waveguide structure.

[0072] In some optional embodiments, the material of the substrate can be a material with good optical transparency, chemical stability and biocompatibility, and can be an organic material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (Poly (methylmethacrylate), referred to as PMMA), polycarbonate (Polycarbonate, referred to as PC), etc., or it can be an inorganic material, such as high-purity quartz glass, borosilicate glass, etc.

[0073] In some optional embodiments, the cross-linking solution is contained in a coagulation pool. The coagulation pool can be a pre-defined specific area on the surface of the substrate, so that the silk protein ink can be directly formed into the desired waveguide shape on the substrate, while providing a confined space so that the ink can be solidified in a controlled environment. The coagulation pool can also be an independently designed container with a specific geometry and size to accommodate different waveguide design requirements. This container can be made of transparent or opaque materials to control the lighting conditions during the curing process of the optical waveguide.

[0074] In some optional embodiments, injecting the silk protein ink onto the substrate based on a nozzle includes: injecting the silk protein ink onto the substrate at a preset pressure and a preset speed based on the nozzle.

[0075] In some optional embodiments, the relationship between the preset pressure and the preset speed is determined based on the following expression:

[0076]

[0077] Wherein, viscosity η = 5.43 × 10 --4 Pa·s

[0078] Atmospheric pressure 101325Pa;

[0079] Methanol density ρ=792kg / m 3 ;

[0080] Gravitational acceleration g = 9.81 m / s 2 ;

[0081] Nozzle diameter d, velocity v, depth h and nozzle length L are provided according to actual conditions.

[0082] In some optional embodiments, the preset pressure range is 20kPa to 70kPka.

[0083] In some optional embodiments, the diameter of the nozzle is 0-10 μm, and the speed is 0.1 mm / s to 5 mm / s.

[0084] In one embodiment of the present application, the nozzle diameter is 5 μm and the speed is 2 mm / s.

[0085] In some optional embodiments, the depth h is 0.5 cm-5 cm.

[0086] In one embodiment of the present application, the depth h is 1 cm.

[0087] In one embodiment of the present application, the concentration of the silk protein ink is 28wt%-30wt%. The silk protein ink in this concentration range has good fluidity and stability during the extrusion process, and can form a uniform and continuous film after being deposited on the substrate. In addition, the interaction force between the silk protein molecules at this concentration is strong, which helps to form a stable three-dimensional network structure during the cross-linking process, and can significantly improve the mechanical strength and optical properties of the planar waveguide.

[0088] In some optional embodiments, the concentration of the silk protein ink can be adjusted according to actual needs. As an example, the method of adjusting the concentration includes: obtaining a diluent by adding deionized water, obtaining a concentrated solution by natural air drying, obtaining a concentrated solution by reverse dialysis, or obtaining a concentrated solution by vacuum centrifugation.

[0089] In practical applications, the concentration of silk protein ink may be fine-tuned according to the specific preparation process and application requirements. For example, if a thinner waveguide layer needs to be prepared, the concentration of the ink may be appropriately reduced to facilitate more precise control of the extrusion volume and deposition thickness. Conversely, if the mechanical strength of the waveguide needs to be enhanced or its optical density needs to be increased, a higher silk protein concentration may be selected.

[0090] S105: Drying the initial planar waveguide structure under preset temperature and preset humidity conditions to obtain a planar waveguide.

[0091] The drying process not only removes the solvent from the waveguide, but also enhances its mechanical strength and optical properties. The preset temperature and humidity conditions need to be optimized according to the characteristics of the silk protein and the desired waveguide performance.

[0092] In some optional embodiments, the preset temperature is -32°C to -12°C, and the preset humidity is less than or equal to 35%. The initial planar waveguide after cross-linking treatment in the methanol solution still inevitably contains a small amount of water. Rapid cooling can reduce the size of ice crystals and reduce the unevenness during the cooling process, thereby alleviating the internal stress and damage caused by volume expansion to a certain extent, so that the waveguide material can maintain its structural integrity and performance stability even at extreme temperatures.

[0093] In some optional embodiments, the preset temperature is -22°C.

[0094] After a drying process, the initial planar waveguide structure is further solidified to form the final planar waveguide. This step ensures the stability and reliability of the waveguide, making it suitable for a variety of applications such as optical communications, sensors or biomedical devices.

[0095] In some optional embodiments, the initial planar waveguide structure is dried under preset temperature and preset humidity conditions. Before obtaining the planar waveguide, the method further includes: cleaning the initial planar waveguide with deionized water to remove surface impurities, residues and other substances that may affect the waveguide performance. The cleaned initial planar waveguide is used to obtain the planar waveguide. Optionally, the cleaning time is 24h-48h to ensure that residues with strong adhesion can also be effectively removed.

[0096] The embodiment of the present application also provides a planar waveguide, which is prepared based on the above method. Figure 3 is a scanning electron microscope image of a planar waveguide provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 3 As shown, the surface of the planar waveguide prepared by the above method is relatively smooth, without large particles or irregularly shaped silk protein particles. The planar waveguide prepared by the above method can be used to prepare neural probes to achieve optogenetic stimulation and in situ electrophysiological recording functions.

[0097] The present application adds a silk protein solution to a preset printing device, the preset printing device includes a nozzle and a mobile platform, the nozzle is arranged on the mobile platform, and the mobile platform can drive the nozzle to move freely within the space range. The precision control system of the platform commands the nozzle to move accurately in three-dimensional space along a preset path, ensuring that the ink is ejected with high precision, so that it can follow a complex design blueprint and accurately deposit silk protein ink, so that the prepared planar waveguide structure is more refined and more suitable for implanting in a specific area in the body. Based on the nozzle, the silk protein ink is injected into a cross-linking solution for curing treatment to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure, wherein the cross-linking solution is a methanol solution of a preset concentration, and the cross-linking treatment enhances the bonding between silk protein molecules, improves its stability and mechanical strength, optimizes the performance of the planar waveguide in applications such as 3D printing, and improves biocompatibility, reduces the degradation products of the protein ink in the body, and slows down the degradation rate, avoiding causing serious immune reactions in the body after implantation. Under the conditions of preset temperature and preset humidity, the initial planar waveguide structure is dried to obtain a planar waveguide. It is ensured that the planar waveguide is structurally intact and has stable performance under extreme conditions.

[0098] It should be noted that the above-mentioned sequence of the embodiments of the present application is for description only and does not represent the advantages and disadvantages of the embodiments. The above-mentioned specific embodiments of this specification are described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the attached claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0099] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the device embodiment, since it is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiment.

[0100] A person skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments may be accomplished by hardware or by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium may be a read-only memory, a disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0101] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a planar waveguide, characterized in that: include, Adding silk protein ink into a preset printing device; the preset printing device comprises a nozzle and a moving platform; the nozzle is arranged on the moving platform, and the moving platform can drive the nozzle to move freely within a spatial range; The silk protein ink is injected into a cross-linking solution through the nozzle for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure; wherein the cross-linking solution is a methanol solution of a preset concentration; The initial planar waveguide structure is dried under preset temperature and preset humidity conditions to obtain a planar waveguide.

2. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preset concentration is 70%-90%.

3. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method of injecting the silk protein ink into a cross-linking solution based on the nozzle for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure comprises: Injecting the silk protein ink onto a substrate based on the nozzle; The substrate is immersed in the cross-linking solution for curing to obtain an initial planar waveguide structure.

4. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 3, characterized in that: The method of injecting the silk protein ink onto a substrate based on the nozzle comprises: The silk protein ink is injected onto a substrate based on the nozzle at a preset pressure and a preset speed.

5. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 4, characterized in that: The preset pressure is 20 kPa to 70 kPa; The preset speed is 0.1 mm / s to 5 mm / s.

6. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preset temperature is -32°C to -12°C; The preset humidity is less than or equal to 35%.

7. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 6, characterized in that: The silk protein ink is prepared by the following method: Adding silk into a degumming solution for degumming to obtain degummed silk; adding the degummed silk into a dissociation solution for dissolution to obtain a silk protein solution; The silk protein solution is dialyzed to obtain the silk protein ink.

8. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 7, characterized in that: The dissociation solution is one of zinc chloride solution, lithium thiocyanate solution, calcium chloride solution, ethanol solution and lithium bromide solution or a combination of several of them.

9. The method for preparing a planar waveguide according to claim 1, characterized in that: Before drying the initial planar waveguide structure under the conditions of preset temperature and preset humidity to obtain the planar waveguide, the method further comprises: The initial planar waveguide is cleaned with deionized water; the cleaned initial planar waveguide is used to obtain a planar waveguide.

10. A planar waveguide, characterized in that: The planar waveguide is prepared according to the method for preparing a planar waveguide according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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