One embodiment of the present invention provides a nonwoven fabric containing silk fibers in which an abs intensity ratio [abs (1650)/abs (1620)], which is a ratio of an intensity of a peak positioned in a vicinity of 1650 cm.sup.−1 [abs (1650)] in an infrared absorption spectrum to an intensity of a peak positioned in a vicinity of 1620 cm.sup.−1 [abs (1620)] in an infrared absorption spectrum, is larger than 0.65 and 1.90 or less, and a method for producing the nonwoven fabric containing silk fibers.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

The disclosure relates to systems and methods for improving the manufacturing of silk solutions and powders containing silk fibroin obtained from silkworm cocoons. The solutions and powders can be used to improve the post-harvest preservation of perishables and to improve the performance of packaging, including biodegradable packaging.

Described are tubular silk fibroin compositions and methods for their manufacture and use. Tubular compositions as described herein can be produced in a range of high burst strengths, can easily be made in a range of inner diameters, can be derivatized with functional moieties, and can be produced in a range of permeabilities suitable for particularized uses. In one aspect, the tubular compositions can be used in the repair or replacement of damaged or diseased blood vessels, including, but not limited to vessels smaller than about 6 mm.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing protein spinning capable of securing a stable strength by securing sufficient interlacing between fibers. The method for producing a protein spun yarn of the present invention includes a step (a) of preparing a raw material spun yarn including an uncrimped artificial fibroin fiber containing modified fibroin and a step (b) of bringing the raw material spun yarn into contact with an aqueous medium to crimp the artificial fibroin fiber.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods including the steps of (i) providing silk fibroin material comprising substantially amorphous structure, and (ii) applying at least one of elevated temperature and elevated pressure to the silk fibroin material to form a silk fibroin article, wherein the applying induces fusion between at least a portion of the silk fibroin and structural change of fibroin in the silk fibroin material. In some embodiments, the present disclosure also provides silk fibroin articles made in accordance with the methods disclosed herein.

A hybrid scaffold is disclosed which is made of materials that define peripheral layers designed to interface with the tissues in the implant site and one or more intermediate layers. The materials are combined to give the scaffold mechanical properties suitable for withstanding the stresses of the implant site. The materials are fibroin for the peripheral layers and polyurethane combined with fibroin for each intermediate layer.

A method of molecular self-assembly is disclosed using two interacting streams that are allowed to interact and are subsequently forced through an orifice. A first stream of a dope solution of polymer molecules is extruded out of a capillary. The dope stream is surrounded by a focusing fluid which is miscible with the dope solution. The interaction between the jet of dope solution and surrounding focusing fluid creates hydrodynamic stretching and allows for extracting solvent from the dope solution. Concentrated polymers within the solution at stretched regions of the jet interact, and finally self-assembly takes place after the fluids are forced through the outlet of a converging nozzle. The formation of the structure can be optionally completed in a coagulating space. The structures thus obtained such as fibers or threads can be wound onto a mandrel.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a modified fibroin multifilament excellent in productivity and a multifilament produced by the same. The multifilament of the present invention contains modified fibroin, in which the multifilament has 100 or more constituent single yarns, a coefficient of variation in elastic modulus is 15% or less, a coefficient of variation in strength is 15% or less, and a coefficient of variation in elongation is less than 33%.