Self-healing behavior of silica-silk fibroin composite films with leaf surface microstructure
Journal
Discover Materials
Journal Volume
6
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
Article number: 52
ISSN
2730-7727
Date Issued
2026-01-08
Author(s)
Wu, Tsai-Chen
Liou, Jia-You
Chao, Chih-Hsin
Chang, Chung-Wen
Lin, Hsin-Yu
Song, Yun-Yun
Yang, Ta-I
Abstract
Silkworm silk fibroin (SF) is a promising next-generation material due to its self-healing capabilities. While this ability is often attributed to intrinsic non-covalent hydrogen bonds, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the influence of SF’s secondary structure and surface morphology on its self-healing behavior. We demonstrate that a higher β-sheet content inversely correlates with self-healing capacity. Consequently, incorporating SiO₂ nanoparticles, which disrupt ordered protein chain arrangements and hinder β-sheet formation, enhances self-healing. Furthermore, we examined the impact of surface microstructure, using the Syzygium samarangense leaf as a template. Our results show that structured surfaces increase the available surface area, providing more protein chains for bonding and improving self-healing properties. However, they can also promote β-sheet formation, which may counteract these benefits. This research highlights strategies for modulating the self-healing properties of SF through nanoparticle incorporation and surface microstructuring.
Subjects
Leaf surface microstructure
Self-healing behavior
Silk fibroin
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
journal article