Silk Fibroin-Based Emulsions—Synthesis, Functionalization and Applications in Agritech and Food Coating

Biopolymers such as proteins, cellulose, and chitin are attracting increasing attention for their potential to replace synthetic materials, especially petroleum-based plastics. Silk fibroin is a biocompatible fibrous protein derived from the cocoons of Bombyx mori L. (silkworm). Its tunable secondary structure, amphiphilic property, and rich engineerable side chains have led to its investigation in multiple industries, including medicine, manufacturing, agritech, and food.<br/>In our work, we produced silk particles at scales ranging from nano to micro sizes. We revealed their behavior at the oil-water interface, demonstrating the ability of silk particles to stabilize payloads under different conditions. Furthermore, we functionalized the surface of silk particles with polymers and antibodies to alter their surface charge, functional groups, and morphology. By using different synthetic methods and conditions, we were able to tune emulsion diameters from several microns to hundreds of microns, meeting the requirements for targeted delivery or food coating applications, thereby helping to lower carbon emissions.