Guest Editors
Dr. Thomas Braxton
University of Sheffield
Dr. Thomas Braxton started his academic journey in 2015 at Cardiff University, where he studied Biomedical Science, followed by an MSc and a PhD at the University of Leeds in 2018 in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. His research focus was on tissue engineering using silk-based scaffolds in conjunction with 3D-printed thermoplastics for osteochondral regeneration.After completing his doctoral research, Thomas moved to the University of Sheffield to join a multidisciplinary team, where he is currently working on Recombinant Spider Silk Spinnability in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
Rafael O. Moreno Tortolero
School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol. University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
Originally from Venezuela, Dr. Rafael O. Moreno Tortolero earned his degree in Polymer Engineering from Universidad Simón Bolívar in 2014. He then moved to the UK, where he completed an MSc in Functional Nanomaterials in 2017, followed by a PhD at the University of Bristol in 2022. His doctoral research focused on silk proteins for tissue engineering applications. After completing his PhD, Rafael secured an independent fellowship at the University of Bristol, where he advanced the recombinant expression of silk chaperones. In 2024, he transitioned to the role of Senior Research Associate in the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, continuing his interdisciplinary research at the interface of biology and materials science.
Collection Overview
The study of silk proteins is crucial for understanding the unique properties that make silk fibers both economically and socially valuable. Despite centuries of research, many chemical, physical, and biological aspects of this protein family remain poorly understood.
This Methods Collection brings together cutting-edge approaches developed to study and manipulate both natural and recombinant/synthetic silks, as well as the organisms that produce them.
Each method presents distinct advantages, whether advancing our molecular understanding of silk proteins, improving the engineering of silk-producing organisms, or characterizing the physical properties of silk-based materials. Some techniques facilitate high-throughput genetic modifications, while others offer detailed structural and functional insights at the molecular or material level. Including these diverse approaches highlights the complexity of silk research and the field's interdisciplinary nature.
This collection includes genetic engineering techniques (e.g., piggyBac, CRISPR-Cas), recombinant silk protein design and purification, structural analysis methods like NMR, X-ray crystallography, and electron microscopy, as well as anatomical characterization of silk-producing organs using tomography and microscopy. It also covers material fabrication and analysis, focusing on mechanical, thermal, and other physical properties.
Articles
Abstracts
Fabrication of Transdermal Microneedles for Allergen Immunotherapy in Low Resource Settings
Fatin Raid1,
Seth Waalen1,
Gabrielle Orth1,
Aswin Sundarakrishnan*1
1University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI 54701