Project description
Increasing artificial silk fibres’ mechanical and electromagnetic properties
The remarkable biological and mechanical properties of spider silk face hindrances due to the cannibalistic nature of spiders, which makes large-scale natural silk harvesting an impossibility. Historically, artificial silk production has been plagued by issues such as poor quality, low yields and environmentally harmful protocols. A biomimetic approach has been used to produce high-quality artificial silk fibres, utilising water as the primary solvent. However, these fibres require enhancements in their mechanical and electromagnetic attributes. The MSCA-funded EPASS project aims to augment the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of these artificial silk fibres. This will be accomplished through the spinning of protein solutions containing carbon nanotubes and magnetic nanoparticles.
Objective
Spider silk is a material with remarkable biological and mechanical properties. Unfortunately, the cannibalistic nature of spiders makes it impossible to harvest natural silk at large quantities, whereas artificial silk production has historically suffered from poor quality, low yields, and environmentally harmful protocols. Overcoming these limitations, Prof. Anna Rising (host) has recently developed a biomimetic spinning setup for generating high quality artificial silk fibres that uses water as the sole solvent and scales volume for economically feasible mass-production. Although remarkable, the fibres generated still require improved mechanical and electromagnetic properties to achieve their full potential in the envisioned biomedical and soft electronics applications.
By combining the host’s expertise in protein biochemistry and biotechnology with my (Dr. Greco, fellow) skills in mechanical and materials engineering, EPASS aims to improve the mechanical and electromagnetic properties of artificial silk fibres by spinning fibres from protein solutions containing carbon nanotubes and magnetic nanoparticles. After establishing an optimized spinning protocol for the introduction of nanomaterials, a new generation of modified silk fibres will be spun and analysed morphologically, mechanically and electromagnetically, delivering a novel strategy for generating silk fibres with custom-made properties that are highly needed in the area of soft electronics. With additional expertise gained from a secondment and short-term visit, EPASS will create a strong foundation for state-of-the-art research and extensive knowledge sharing between researchers and organisations.
In summary, EPASS will integrate novel methodologies to create a new generation of scalable green materials with breakthrough potential in soft electronics, while simultaneously shaping a new research line - functionalized spider silk - which I will pioneer, thus boosting my future career as research leader.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
750 07 Uppsala
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.