Development of environmentally harmonious natural fibers by direct introduction of disulfide groups into fibrous proteins

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02322
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08030:Family and consumer sciences, and culture and living-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Kasei University
• Principal Investigator: Kuzuhara Akio 東京家政大学, 家政学部, 教授 (00813916)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 繊維状タンパク質 / ジスルフィド結合 / 高機能性絹繊維 / タンパク質化学修飾法 / フィブリル化の防止 / しわ回復性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the knowledge of the wrinkle formation mechanism of wool and the protein chemical modification, we have established processing and property evaluation methods for new high-functional silk fabrics with good wrinkle recovery, setting ability, and preventing fibrillation by directly introducing disulfide (-SS-) groups, which are excellent properties of wool fibers, into silk fibers (between fibril molecules). Specifically, for refined silk fabrics (crepe silk), we succeeded in developing a high-functional silk fiber with wrinkle recovery of the difference in open angle of over 20 ° without changing the original physical properties of silk fabrics (hand, and weight). Furthermore, by introducing the reduction process after the introduction of the -SH group, we have been successful in developing a high-performance silk fiber that not only provides setting ability but also prevents fibrillation.

Free Research Field

繊維高分子材料

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発された高機能性絹繊維は、絹本来の物理的性質（風合い、重量）を損ねることなく、優れたしわ回復性・形態安定性、及びフィブリル化の抑制を示した環境調和型天然繊維であり、その学術的意義は極めて高い。この高機能性絹繊維の加工技術を用いれば、高度な立体加工が可能となり、テキスタイル分野だけではなく、インテリア・産業資材分野、及び-SS-架橋反応を導入した高強度スパイダーシルクの開発に応用が可能であり、循環型社会の加速に資することができる。