Fiorenzo Omenetto: Silk, the ancient material of the future

翻译人员: Bear Jin 校对人员: Yvonne Fu

Thank you.

谢谢

I'm thrilled to be here.

很高兴能来到这里

I'm going to talk about a new, old material

我要谈谈一种新的古老的材料

that still continues to amaze us,

它仍在不断的让我们惊叹

and that might impact the way we think

这可能会改变我们对

about material science, high technology --

材料科学和高科技的方式的认识 --

and maybe, along the way,

也许，继续发展下去的话

also do some stuff for medicine and for global health and help reforestation.

还会为医学和全球健康做出贡献，还能帮助重新造林

So that's kind of a bold statement.

这是个大胆的宣言

I'll tell you a little bit more.

我将告诉你更多的信息

This material actually has some traits that make it seem almost too good to be true.

实际上这材料有些特性让它好的令人难以置信

It's sustainable; it's a sustainable material

可持续性，这是种可持续的材料

that is processed all in water and at room temperature --

仅用水在室温下就能生产 --

and is biodegradable with a clock,

并且是可生物降解的

so you can watch it dissolve instantaneously in a glass of water

你能看着它在一杯水里立刻溶解

or have it stable for years.

或是稳定的存在数年

It's edible; it's implantable in the human body

它可食用，移植人体

without causing any immune response.

而不会造成任何免疫反应

It actually gets reintegrated in the body.

它事实上还能融入了身体

And it's technological,

这是高科技的

so it can do things like microelectronics,

它能像微电子元件

and maybe photonics do.

或是光电子元件那样运作

And the material

这种材料

looks something like this.

看起来像这样

In fact, this material you see is clear and transparent.

实际上，你所看到的材料是清晰透明的

The components of this material are just water and protein.

这材料的成分只有水和蛋白质

So this material is silk.

这种材料就是蚕丝

So it's kind of different

这与我们过去

from what we're used to thinking about silk.

所想到的的蚕丝有些不同

So the question is, how do you reinvent something

问题是，如何重新发明一个

that has been around for five millennia?

已经存在了五千年的事物？

The process of discovery, generally, is inspired by nature.

发现的过程,通常,也是来自自然的启发

And so we marvel at silk worms --

我们对桑蚕惊叹不已 --

the silk worm you see here spinning its fiber.

各位看到的这只桑蚕正在吐丝

The silk worm does a remarkable thing:

桑蚕所做的了不起的事是：

it uses these two ingredients, protein and water,

蚕丝中有两种成分，蛋白质和水

that are in its gland,

原保存于在桑蚕的腺体中

to make a material that is exceptionally tough for protection --

以此来制造这种异常坚固的保护性材料 --

so comparable to technical fibers

可以比得上人造纤维

like Kevlar.

比如芳纶

And so in the reverse engineering process

在逆向工程学工程中

that we know about,

根据我们所了解的

and that we're familiar with,

根据我们所熟悉的

for the textile industry,

针对纺织工业

the textile industry goes and unwinds the cocoon

纺织工业从蚕茧中抽丝

and then weaves glamorous things.

然后编织出精美织物

We want to know how you go from water and protein

我们想知道如何由水和蛋白质

to this liquid Kevlar, to this natural Kevlar.

产生这种液态的芳纶，这种自然的芳纶

So the insight

因此关键是

is how do you actually reverse engineer this

如何真正地对其进行逆向工程

and go from cocoon to gland

从蚕茧回到腺体

and get water and protein that is your starting material.

并水和蛋白质成为你的原始材料

And this is an insight

这一关键

that came, about two decades ago,

来自二十年前

from a person that I'm very fortunate to work with,

我有幸与其共同工作的一个人

David Kaplan.

大卫·卡普兰

And so we get this starting material.

这样我们得到了这些原始材料

And so this starting material is back to the basic building block.

用这些原始材料被还原成基本构件

And then we use this to do a variety of things --

我们用它们做出了各种东西 --

like, for example, this film.

比如,这个薄膜

And we take advantage of something that is very simple.

我们对它构造简单这优点加以利用

The recipe to make those films

这些薄膜的制作方法就是

is to take advantage of the fact

利用了蛋白质在它们所做的这事上

that proteins are extremely smart at what they do.

极其聪明这一优点

They find their way to self-assemble.

它们会自行组装起来

So the recipe is simple: you take the silk solution, you pour it,

制作方法很简单：拿出丝绸溶液，倒入容器

and you wait for the protein to self-assemble.

等待蛋白质自行组装起来

And then you detach the protein and you get this film,

然后分离蛋白质，就得到了这个薄膜

as the proteins find each other as the water evaporates.

蛋白质找到自己的位置并随着水的蒸发

But I mentioned that the film is also technological.

但这薄膜也具有高科技性

And so what does that mean?

这表示什么呢？

It means that you can interface it

这意味着你能用它作为

with some of the things that are typical of technology,

一些拥有典型技术的事物的界面

like microelectronics and nanoscale technology.

比如微电子和纳米技术

And the image of the DVD here

这图片中的DVD光盘

is just to illustrate a point

只是说明一点

that silk follows very subtle topographies of the surface,

蚕丝能适应非常精细的表面

which means that it can replicate features on the nanoscale.

意味着它们能复制纳米程度上的细节

So it would be able to replicate the information

它能刻录下信息

that is on the DVD.

在这影碟上

And we can store information that's film with water and protein.

我们利用由水和蛋白质制成的胶片来记录下信息

So we tried something out, and we wrote a message in a piece of silk,

我们尝试了一些，而且我们在这片丝上写下了一条讯息

which is right here, and the message is over there.

就在这里，这讯息就在这里

And much like in the DVD, you can read it out optically.

就好像刻录在影碟上，只是你要用光学读取

And this requires a stable hand,

这要求一个很稳定的手

so this is why I decided to do it onstage in front of a thousand people.

这也是为什么我决定在这么多人面前展示的原因

So let me see.

让我们来看看

So as you see the film go in transparently through there,

你能看到透过透明的薄膜

and then ...

然后...

(Applause)

（掌声）

And the most remarkable feat

最关键的技巧

is that my hand actually stayed still long enough to do that.

是我的手需要持续足够长时间的静止

So once you have these attributes

一旦你有了这材料的

of this material,

这些特性

then you can do a lot of things.

接下去你就能做很多事情

It's actually not limited to films.

实际上对于这薄膜没有什么限制

And so the material can assume a lot of formats.

这材料可以胜任很多的设计样式

And then you go a little crazy, and so you do various optical components

你也能做一些疯狂的是，你能做很多视觉元件

or you do microprism arrays,

或者微型的排列

like the reflective tape that you have on your running shoes.

就像你跑鞋上的反光带

Or you can do beautiful things

或者你能做一些漂亮的东西

that, if the camera can capture, you can make.

如果摄像师能捕捉到，你试一下

You can add a third dimensionality to the film.

你能在薄膜内加注三维的图像

And if the angle is right,

如果角度正确的哈

you can actually see a hologram appear in this film of silk.

你能从这丝制薄膜上看见全息图像

But you can do other things.

你也能做其他事情

You can imagine that then maybe you can use a pure protein to guide light,

你能想象到你也许能用纯蛋白来引导光线

and so we've made optical fibers.

所以我们做出了光纤

But silk is versatile and it goes beyond optics.

但是丝绸是广泛性 它能做的不仅仅是光学

And you can think of different formats.

你能想出不同的设计

So for instance, if you're afraid of going to the doctor and getting stuck with a needle,

比如说，如果你害怕去医院讨厌打针的话

we do microneedle arrays.

我们能做出微型针头

What you see there on the screen is a human hair

你现在屏幕上看到的是人的头发

superimposed on the needle that's made of silk --

上面的就是用丝做的针--

just to give you a sense of size.

给大家一个尺寸的概念

You can do bigger things.

你也能做更大型的东西

You can do gears and nuts and bolts --

你能做齿轮螺帽螺栓--

that you can buy at Whole Foods.

那些你能在全食超市买到的

And the gears work in water as well.

而且齿轮在水里也是能工作的

So you think of alternative mechanical parts.

当你想到替换机械部件的话

And maybe you can use that liquid Kevlar if you need something strong

如果你想要些牢固的东西的话也许用的到这种液态的纤维

to replace peripheral veins, for example,

来移植到外周静脉，打个比方说，

or maybe an entire bone.

或者整根骨头

And so you have here a little example

我们已经有了一些制造小型头骨

of a small skull --

的经验--

what we call mini Yorick.

我们叫它小约里克

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But you can do things like cups, for example,

但是你也能制做像杯子一类的东西，打个比方

and so, if you add a little bit of gold, if you add a little bit of semiconductors

而且，如果你加点金粉，如果你加点半导体

you could do sensors that stick on the surfaces of foods.

你就做成了覆盖在事物表面的传感器

You can do electronic pieces

你能做那种可以夹取和包裹的

that fold and wrap.

电子元件

Or if you're fashion forward, some silk LED tattoos.

或者如果你够前卫，一些丝制发光纹身

So there's versatility, as you see,

这就是广泛性，就如你看到的那样

in the material formats,

在材料设计方面

that you can do with silk.

你能用纤维丝来做文章

But there are still some unique traits.

但是它还是有些独特的特征

I mean, why would you want to do all these things for real?

我指的是，为什么

I mentioned it briefly at the beginning;

我在开始的时候简单的提了一下；

the protein is biodegradable and biocompatible.

蛋白质是生物可降解的也是生物兼容的

And you see here a picture of a tissue section.

你这里看到的是一张组织横截图

And so what does that mean, that it's biodegradable and biocompatible?

这代表着什么呢，这就是生物可降解性和生物兼容性吗？

You can implant it in the body without needing to retrieve what is implanted.

你能把它移植到体内而不需要取出

Which means that all the devices that you've seen before and all the formats,

这意味着所有你之前看到的所有的设备和设计

in principle, can be implanted and disappear.

本质上，是会被移除和消除的

And what you see there in that tissue section,

你这里看到的组织截面

in fact, is you see that reflector tape.

是，实际上，你看到的是反射条

So, much like you're seen at night by a car,

这就像你在夜间看到一辆车一样

then the idea is that you can see, if you illuminate tissue,

只要你照射这组织，你就能看到大致的样子

you can see deeper parts of tissue

你能看到组织下更深层的

because there is that reflective tape there that is made out of silk.

因为这个反光带是用丝做的

And you see there, it gets reintegrated in tissue.

你这里看到的，它和组织细胞所融合

And reintegration in the human body

和人体融合

is not the only thing,

不是件大事

but reintegration in the environment is important.

但是和自然融合才是真正重要的

So you have a clock, you have protein,

你有时间，有蛋白质

and now a silk cup like this

有个像这样的丝质杯子

can be thrown away without guilt --

就能毫无内疚的随手扔掉

(Applause)

（掌声）

unlike the polystyrene cups

不像塑料

that unfortunately fill our landfills everyday.

那种不幸每天填满我们的垃圾场的杯子

It's edible,

它是可食用的

so you can do smart packaging around food

你能用这个打包食物

that you can cook with the food.

你也能把它和食物一起烹饪

It doesn't taste good,

它尝起来不是很好

so I'm going to need some help with that.

这方面我还是需要一些帮助

But probably the most remarkable thing is that it comes full circle.

但是也许最重要的事情是它有循环机制

Silk, during its self-assembly process,

丝，在自我结合阶段

acts like a cocoon for biological matter.

表现为生物态的虫茧

And so if you change the recipe,

如果你变动下方法

and you add things when you pour --

当你倒入的时候加入一点东西--

so you add things to your liquid silk solution --

加一点让丝液化的东西--

where these things are enzymes

比如酵素

or antibodies or vaccines,

或者抗体或者疫苗

the self-assembly process

那自我结合阶段

preserves the biological function of these dopants.

会保持这些加入物的生化功能

So it makes the materials environmentally active

这使得材料能作用

and interactive.

和互相作用

So that screw that you thought about beforehand

所以你先前考虑到的螺丝

can actually be used

就能切实利用

to screw a bone together -- a fractured bone together --

来固定骨头--把断裂的骨头固定在一起

and deliver drugs at the same,

同时也释放出药物

while your bone is healing, for example.

同时让你的骨头愈合，打个比方说

Or you could put drugs in your wallet and not in your fridge.

或者你能把药放在你的皮夹里而不是你的冰箱里

So we've made a silk card

我们研发出带有青霉素

with penicillin in it.

的丝片

And we stored penicillin at 60 degrees C,

我们在60摄氏度下保存

so 140 degrees Fahrenheit,

也就是140华氏度下，

for two months without loss of efficacy of the penicillin.

大约2个月青霉素都没有失去它的效用

And so that could be ---

所以这个可以成为---

(Applause)

（掌声）

that could be potentially a good alternative

这也成为太阳能冷冻骆驼的

to solar powered refrigerated camels. (Laughter)

的潜在替换品

And of course, there's no use in storage if you can't use [it].

当然，如果不能使用储存也就没有意义了

And so there is this other unique material trait

这也是这个材料另一个独特的特性

that these materials have, that they're programmably degradable.

这个材料，它们可以根据设计来降解

And so what you see there is the difference.

你这里看到的就是区别

In the top, you have a film that has been programmed not to degrade,

在上排，你有个薄膜是被设计成不能降解的

and in the bottom, a film that has been programmed to degrade in water.

在下排，薄膜是被设计成能在水中降解的

And what you see is that the film on the bottom

在下排的薄膜你所看到的

releases what is inside it.

是它释放出了在其内部的物质

So it allows for the recovery of what we've stored before.

所以它是能够恢复到我们之前保存是的状态的

And so this allows for a controlled delivery of drugs

这就实现了一种可控的药物传输途径

and for reintegration in the environment

以及所有你所见到的设计

in all of these formats that you've seen.

对环境的融合

So the thread of discovery that we have really is a thread.

我们发现过程真的是一个曲折的过程

We're impassioned with this idea that whatever you want to do,

我们热衷与任何你想做的事情

whether you want to replace a vein or a bone,

无论你是想换静脉还是骨头

or maybe be more sustainable in microelectronics,

微电子学领域更加的可持续

perhaps drink a coffee in a cup

或者用被子和一杯咖啡

and throw it away without guilt,

然后顺手把它丢了也不会内疚

maybe carry your drugs in your pocket,

也许用钱包来装你的药物

deliver them inside your body

运送到你体内

or deliver them across the desert,

或者穿越沙漠来运送它们

the answer may be in a thread of silk.

答案也许就在丝茧中

Thank you.

谢谢

(Applause)

（掌声）