Tunable surface wettability and pH-responsive 2D structures from amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils

Two dimensional films and paper-like structures (60–170 μm thick) have been facilely fabricated by casting ethanolic dispersions of amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils (ca. 1.3 μm width; 53 μm length) under controlled temperatures and moisture levels. Surface hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity can be easily tuned by the abillity of the highly responsive microfibers to self-organize at the interface to mimic the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of cast substrates. For instance, surfaces cast on hydrophobic polystyrene or Teflon were moderately hydrophobic with water contact angles (WCAs) of 54°–71° while those on hydrophilic glass or exposed to air were hydrophilic (WCAs: 5°–10°). Thin film dried in the presence of moisture (60% RH) at 65 °C had the highest crystallinity (CrI: 56%) and β structure (64%), including 48% β-sheet form, and exhibited moisture-responsive T(g), pH-responsive planar swelling, and excellent wet resiliency in extremely acidic (pH = 0) to basic (pH = 10) conditions. The pH-dependent release of highly water-soluble cationic methylene blue bound to protein microfibril (SPMF) films attests to their amphoterism and demonstrates the applicability of such 2D structures for pH-dependent controlled release of other cationic and anionic species. Such versatility of amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils can be engineered into 2D structures with tunable surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, moisture- and pH-responsive behaviors and controlled release capabilities.