Fibrous proteins such as collagen and fibrinogen form a thin solid layer on the surface of an aqueous solution similar to the “skin” that forms on warm milk, according to a team of Penn State Researchers, who believe this finding could lead to more efficient bioprinting and tissue engineering.
In the human body, fibrous proteins provide structural support for cells and tissues and aid in biomechanics. Collagen makes up 80 percent of our skin and 10 percent of our muscles, while fibrinogen helps in blood clotting by forming the hydrogel fibrin.