Thermally Induced Transferable Silk Nanofibrils-based Gas-Liquid Interfacial Films: Formation and Applications

Abstract

Gas-liquid interfacial films have emerged as versatile materials for surface modification in biomedical applications, agriculture, and antifouling owing to their strong substrate-bonding capabilities. Silk nanofibrils (SNF), as nanoscale building blocks of silk, exhibit exceptional mechanical stability, high crystallinity, and aqueous adaptability, making them ideal candidates for fabricating interfacial films. However, conventional fabrication methods for SNF- or protein-based interfacial films often involve complex and resource-intensive chemical processes. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a simple and efficient strategy for preparing thermally induced SNF gas-liquid interfacial films via heat treatment, leveraging thermal evaporation-induced concentration to drive self-assembly. The method demonstrated broad applicability to various proteins and hydrophilic substrates, offering versatility and sustainability. Furthermore, the prepared films exhibited potential as antifouling and anti-counterfeiting functional coatings, significantly expanding the application scenarios of protein-based interfacial films.