Fluorescent Mulberry Silk via Upconversion Nanoparticles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing fluorescent silk fibers face challenges such as low fluorescence specificity, weak penetration of excitation light, and difficulties in in vivo imaging and detection due to strong autofluorescence and easy quenching of fluorescence.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of upconversion nanoparticles with a core-shell structure, surface modification with concanavalin, and incorporation into Bombyx mori silkworms through treated mulberry leaves to produce silk that fluoresces under near-infrared light, suitable for mass production and biocompatible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If common luminescent materials (anthocyanins, quantum dots) are used for silk fiber modification, then fluorescence can be achieved, but the fluorescence is easily quenched and has poor penetration in vivo deep tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the excitation wavelength parameter from visible light to near-infrared light (980 nm). This parameter change enables deeper tissue penetration and reduces fluorescence quenching, resolving the contradiction between fluorescence intensity and stability in vivo
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses upconversion nanoparticles with a core-shell structure (β-NaYF4:Yb,Er@β-NaYF4) as a composite luminescent material. This composite structure provides stable fluorescence properties and resistance to quenching, while the rare earth ions enable near-infrared excitation and visible light emission
2Manufacturing precision
If electrostatic spinning is used to prepare luminous silk fiber, then upconversion nanoparticles can be incorporated into silk fiber, but the process takes long time and has low yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the nanoparticles from the complex electrostatic spinning process and directly incorporates them into the silk glands through feeding. This removes the time-consuming electrostatic spinning step while maintaining nanoparticle incorporation, significantly improving production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-modifying the upconversion nanoparticle surfaces with concanavalin A before feeding to silkworms. This surface modification ensures uniform distribution and stable incorporation into silk fibers during the natural spinning process, achieving good manufacturing precision without electrostatic spinning
3Reliability
If surface modification is applied to upconversion nanoparticles, then biocompatibility can be improved, but the nanoparticles are not distributed evenly and fall off easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface chemistry parameters of the nanoparticles by coating with concanavalin A, a lectin that binds to sugar residues. This parameter change improves biocompatibility and ensures stable, uniform distribution in silk fibers through specific biological interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The concanavalin A coating acts as an intermediary between the inorganic nanoparticle core and the biological silk protein environment. It provides biocompatibility while enabling stable incorporation into silk fibers, preventing nanoparticle aggregation and loss
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enhances fluorescence intensity, penetration power, and biocompatibility of the silk fibers, enabling effective in vivo imaging and detection while avoiding environmental pollution.
Implementation Method 1
upconversion nanoparticles is a kind of luminophor constituted by rare earth ions, and may transform long-wavelength near-infrared light into short-wavelength visible light
Implementation Method 2
performing surface modification with concanavalin to obtain modified upconversion nanoparticles
Implementation Method 3
feeding the treated mulberry leaves in the step (3) to the silkworms until the silkworms spin silk cocoons
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for constructing fluorescent Bombyx Mori silkworm silk irradiated by near-infrared light and its products, comprising: (1) preparing upconversion nanoparticles, and performing surface modification with concanavalin to obtain modified upconversion nanoparticles; (2) uniformly dispersing the modified upconversion nanoparticles in water to formulate an aqueous solution of the upconversion nanoparticles, (3) picking mature mulberry leaves, immersing the mulberry leaves in the aqueous solution system of the nanoparticles, leaching water, and naturally drying the mulberry leaves; (4) after silkworms have grown for a set time, feeding the treated mulberry leaves to the silkworms until the silkworms spin silk cocoons; and (5) collecting the silk, so as to obtain mulberry silk that fluoresces under near-infrared light. The present invention selects upconversion nanoparticles capable of emitting fluorescence under the irradiation of near-infrared light which has stronger penetration, thus has better application in deep tissue imaging.