(396d) Multifunctional Tandem Repeat Proteins: Triboelectricity, Selective Absorption, and Self-Healing

To reduce the environmental harm caused by traditional non-renewable polymers, this study developed biopolymer substitutes namely, squid ring teeth-inspired fibrillar Tandem Repeat (TR) proteins. TR proteins were synthesized via gene expression in E. coli and fermentation at 100L scale. Three properties of TR proteins were studied. First, these TR protein-based materials were found to be more triboelectric than most traditionally used plastics making them a sustainable solution across technologies. The proposed approach was demonstrated successfully at the laboratory scale by wet spinning of cellulose fibers carrying TR proteins, showing promise for applications needing renewable resources. X-ray diffraction and mechanical tests substantiated the compatibility of the two phases. Adding 10% protein by weight to cellulose fibers considerably enhanced triboelectric voltage output (~50%), whereas a thin coating boosted it by 98%. Second, sessile drop experiments confirmed hydrophobicity of TR proteins with an impressive 56° difference in contact angles between oil and water. The salt leaching method enabled the preparation of highly porous (87.6 ± 1.8%) TR protein foams that showed advanced abilities, such as rapid selective oil-absorption with an efficiency of 93.9%. Finally, TR foams have proven to be a prime candidate for aerosol and water filtration processes due to their impressive self-healing properties, allowing these proteins to remain virtually unscathed despite repeated use. Furthermore, this renewability will enable them to easily transition into different applications after they've served their purpose.