A method for making and a resultant paper test strip product for detecting Zika antibodies indicating the presence of Zika virus in a patient sample. The paper test strip includes a strip of filter paper; and a silk fibroin solution applied to the strip of filter paper wherein the silk fibroin solution is mixed with an enzyme solution in phosphate buffered saline buffer.

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A biofabricated material containing a network of crosslinked collagen fibrils is disclosed. This material is composed of collagen which is also a major component of natural leather and is produced by a process of fibrillation of collagen molecules into fibrils, crosslinking the fibrils and lubricating the crosslinked fibrils. Unlike natural leathers, this biofabricated material exhibits non-anisotropic (not directionally dependent) physical properties, for example, a sheet of biofabricated material can have substantially the same elasticity or tensile strength when stretched or stressed in different directions. Unlike natural leather, it has a uniform texture that facilitates uniform uptake of dyes and coatings. Aesthetically, it produces a uniform and consistent grain for ease of manufacturability. It can have substantially identical grain, texture and other aesthetic properties on both sides distinct from natural leather where the grain increases from one side (e.g., distal surface) to the other (proximal inner layers).

A method for extracting keratin from wool fibers is described. The method includes treating the wool fibers in a solvent, washing, and drying to form cleaned wool fibers. The method incudes cutting the cleaned wool fibers and dispersing in an ionic liquid to form a slurry. The method further includes sonicating the slurry to form a first composition containing dissolved keratin. The method also includes mixing the first composition with water to precipitate the keratin from the first composition. Additionally, the method involves separating and collecting the precipitated keratin from the first composition, washing, and drying to form the keratin. The method for extracting keratin from natural fibers is also described.

A method for extracting keratin from wool fibers is described. The method includes treating the wool fibers in a solvent, washing, and drying to form cleaned wool fibers. The method incudes cutting the cleaned wool fibers and dispersing in an ionic liquid to form a slurry. The method further includes sonicating the slurry to form a first composition containing dissolved keratin. The method also includes mixing the first composition with water to precipitate the keratin from the first composition. Additionally, the method involves separating and collecting the precipitated keratin from the first composition, washing, and drying to form the keratin. The method for extracting keratin from natural fibers is also described.

A process for converting post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials to leather fibers is disclosed. The process involves obtaining post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials with a surface finish, removing the surface finish, reduced the size of the materials to a size between about 0.5 and about 3 inches in length and in width, and adding a surfactant. After the surfactant has been added, the waste leather materials are again reduced in size to between 3 mm and 9 mm in length to form leather fibers, and a humectant and/or lubricant is added to the fibers, optionally after first opening up with steam. FTIR or other analytical chemistry can be used to identify the surface finishes before they are removed, which allows for selection of the most appropriate treatment to remove the finish.

A process for converting post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials to leather fibers is disclosed. The process involves obtaining post-industrial or post-consumer waste leather materials with a surface finish, removing the surface finish, reduced the size of the materials to a size between about 0.5 and about 3 inches in length and in width, and adding a surfactant. After the surfactant has been added, the waste leather materials are again reduced in size to between 3 mm and 9 mm in length to form leather fibers, and a humectant and/or lubricant is added to the fibers, optionally after first opening up with steam. FTIR or other analytical chemistry can be used to identify the surface finishes before they are removed, which allows for selection of the most appropriate treatment to remove the finish.

Provided herein relates to methods for preparing micron range silk fibers (or silk microfibers) and compositions comprising a micron range silk fiber (or a silk microfiber). The micron range silk fibers (or silk microfibers) can be used in various applications ranging from fillers in cosmetics to reinforcement materials to design high strength composites, e.g., reinforced scaffolds. In some embodiments, the silk microfiber-reinforced scaffolds can be used for bone graft applications because of their high compressive strength.