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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Microfluidic Dry-spinning and Characterization of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Fibers
Published on: September 4, 2017
Dyeing and Functionalization of Wearable Silk Fibroin/Cellulose Composite by Nanocolloidal Array
Dan Yan1, Lili Qiu1, Kenneth J Shea2
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Beijing Institute of Technology , Beijing 102488 , China.
Abstract:
A wearable silk fibroin/cellulose composite is reported. It is structurally dyed and functionalized by embedding three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene nanocolloidal arrays to form opal and inverse opal silk methylcellulose photonic crystal films (SMPCF). The brilliant color of SMPCF is utilized for naked-eye detection of humidity and a trace amount (0.02%) of H2O content in organic solvents. Volatile organic compounds gases of 5 types were detected. By alternately exposed to organic solvents of methanol, acetonitrile, acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, carbon tetrachloride, and toluene, 3D inverse opal SMPCF displayed an excellent sensing performance with instantaneously color changes from green to red. The organic solvent sensitive SMPCF are wearable by integrated into a rubber glove. This composite has the potential to be used in wearable real-time sensing materials.
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