Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a fibroin solution including a step of forming a slurry containing a solvent-containing dissolving liquid and a fibroin-containing protein powder dispersed in the dissolving liquid by continuously introducing the protein powder to a thin film of the dissolving liquid while flowing the thin film; and a step of forming a fibroin solution by dissolving, in the dissolving liquid, the protein powder in the slurry.

The application relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a natural fiber based staple fibers. The application further relates to the staple fibers, staple fiber based raw wool and products comprising such. A method comprises providing a cellulose suspension (101, 310, 510) including water, refined cellulose fibrils and at least one rheology modifier, directing the cellulose suspension through a nozzle (102, 320, 520) onto a surface (300, 400, 500), drying the cellulose suspension onto the surface (103, 300, 400, 500) for forming a fiber (350, 550), and cutting the cellulose suspension on the surface for forming staple fibers (105).

The application relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a natural fiber based staple fibers. The application further relates to the staple fibers, staple fiber based raw wool and products comprising such. A method comprises providing a cellulose suspension (101, 310, 510) including water, refined cellulose fibrils and at least one rheology modifier, directing the cellulose suspension through a nozzle (102, 320, 520) onto a surface (300, 400, 500), drying the cellulose suspension onto the surface (103, 300, 400, 500) for forming a fiber (350, 550), and cutting the cellulose suspension on the surface for forming staple fibers (105).

The present invention provides methods for producing a silk protein spinning dope solution suitable for producing high toughness fibres, the thus produced silk protein spinning dope solution, methods for producing fibres using said silk protein spinning dope solution.

This present disclosure provides methods for utilizing such forces in when generating nanofibrillar constructs with engineered morphology from the nano- to macro-scales. Using for example, a biopolymer silk fibroin as a base material, patterns an intermediate hydrogel were generated within a deformable mold. Subsequently, mechanical tension was introduced via either hydrogel contraction or mold deformation, and finally a material is reentrapped in this transformed shape via beta-sheet crystallization and critical point drying. Topdown engineered anchorages, cables, and shapes act in concert to mediate precision changes in nanofiber alignment/orientation and a macroscale form of provided nanofibrillar structure. An ability of this technique to engineer large gradients of nano- and micro-scale order, manipulate mechanical properties (such as plasticity and thermal transport), and the in-situ generation of 2D and 3D, multi-tiered and doped, nanofibrillar constructs was demonstrated.

This present disclosure provides methods for utilizing such forces in when generating nanofibrillar constructs with engineered morphology from the nano- to macro-scales. Using for example, a biopolymer silk fibroin as a base material, patterns an intermediate hydrogel were generated within a deformable mold. Subsequently, mechanical tension was introduced via either hydrogel contraction or mold deformation, and finally a material is reentrapped in this transformed shape via beta-sheet crystallization and critical point drying. Topdown engineered anchorages, cables, and shapes act in concert to mediate precision changes in nanofiber alignment/orientation and a macroscale form of provided nanofibrillar structure. An ability of this technique to engineer large gradients of nano- and micro-scale order, manipulate mechanical properties (such as plasticity and thermal transport), and the in-situ generation of 2D and 3D, multi-tiered and doped, nanofibrillar constructs was demonstrated.

Provided is a structural protein microbody that functions as a core for forming a protein nanofiber. There is provided a structural protein microbody including a structural protein, in which the structural protein microbody satisfies at least two of the following (i) to (iii): (i) a peak is present within a range of 480 to 500 nm in a fluorescence intensity measurement by thioflavin T staining; (ii) a peak is present in a region where Q is 0.15 or less in a modified Kratky plot of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS); and (iii) the structural protein microbody is an aggregate of two or more structural protein molecules.

Provided is a structural protein microbody that functions as a core for forming a protein nanofiber. There is provided a structural protein microbody including a structural protein, in which the structural protein microbody satisfies at least two of the following (i) to (iii): (i) a peak is present within a range of 480 to 500 nm in a fluorescence intensity measurement by thioflavin T staining; (ii) a peak is present in a region where Q is 0.15 or less in a modified Kratky plot of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS); and (iii) the structural protein microbody is an aggregate of two or more structural protein molecules.

Provided is a water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to various materials or articles in a simple process, and a method capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to predetermined materials or articles.

A water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent containing modified fibroin as an active ingredient, and a method for imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to an article, the method including a step of incorporating modified fibroin into the article.

Provided is a water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to various materials or articles in a simple process, and a method capable of easily imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to predetermined materials or articles.

A water-absorbing and quick-drying property-imparting agent containing modified fibroin as an active ingredient, and a method for imparting water-absorbing and quick-drying properties to an article, the method including a step of incorporating modified fibroin into the article.