Instantaneous fibrillation of egg white proteome with ionic liquid and macromolecular crowding

This research demonstrates instantaneous protein fibril production from a low-cost, readily available source: egg white. Using the ionic liquid cholinium tosylate as a fibrillation agent, the process takes only seconds and avoids the need for expensive purified proteins and slow fibrillation kinetics common to existing methods. Microscopy confirms fibril formation, fluorescence spectroscopy monitors kinetics, and spectroscopic and molecular docking studies identify the proteins involved and the underlying mechanisms. The resulting fibrils exhibit enhanced mechanical properties and cytocompatibility, showing potential as improved enzyme supports.

Pankaj Bharmoria, Dibyendu Mondal, Matheus M. Pereira, Márcia C. Neves, Mafalda R. Almeida, Maria C. Gomes, João F. Mano, Igor Bdikin, Rute A. S. Ferreira, João A. P. Coutinho, Mara G. Freire