Biomaterials Research Projects for Undergraduate Students: Exploring the Correlation between Silk Fibroin Protein Aggregation and Intrinsic Fluorescence

摘要

A project, designed in collaboration with an undergraduate biomedical engineering student, was successfully carried out and completed over one semester. In this project, various biomaterials fabrication techniques were introduced. Additionally, the student studied the correlation between protein aggregation and intrinsic fluorescence and its potential use for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. The results showed that the intrinsic fluorescence of SFP and eGFP model proteins changes due to protein aggregation and that single and binary protein solutions behave differently in this regard. This project has currently been extended and the student is now investigating the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptide and its potential in early detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.