Electrospun Nanofibrous UV Filters with Bidirectional Actuation Based on Silk Fibroin and DNA

Summary

Silk fibroin from Bombyx mori and DNA from salmon sperm were both dissolved in water and spun into a nanofibrous patch - two biological materials, no organic solvents. The resulting patch does two things: it blocks ultraviolet light, and it actuates bidirectionally in response to water vapour, bending one way as it absorbs moisture and back as it dries. A UV filter that also moves in response to humidity is an unusual combination, and it comes from the materials themselves rather than from any added mechanism.

Authors & Affiliations

• Maria Rachele Ceccarini

  Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy
• Irene Chiesa

  Department of Information Engineering and Research Centre "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Italy
• Francesca Ripanti

  Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, University of Perugia, Italy
• Maria Antonietta Cardinali

  Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy
• Simone Micalizzi

  Department of Information Engineering and Research Centre "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Italy
• Gabriele Scattini

  Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Italy

Linari Electrospinning Systems

Topics

Materials