Hydrodynamic Spinning of Protein Fractal Aggregates into Core-Shell Fibers

Using fractal protein aggregates as building blocks, porous fibers were produced. The suspension of aggregates was coinjected with a solution of calcium chloride. Sol-gel transition of the suspension was induced by diffusion of calcium ions in the jet. The production of these fibers required a precise control of both hydrodynamic and physicochemical conditions as hydrodynamic instabilities competed with the gelation kinetics. By increasing the calcium concentration, several regimes were observed: swollen, dispersed, and shrunk fibers. In the first regime, homogeneous fibers were obtained. In the last one, osmotic phenomena led to a spontaneous core-shell structure with a dense shell.

Automated summary

Using fractal protein aggregates as building blocks, porous fibers were produced by precisely controlling both hydrodynamic and physicochemical conditions. Different fiber states were observed by increasing calcium concentration.