Patent ID: 11885929
Assignee: TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 15:
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
exposing at least a portion the hierarchical opal to water vapor or ultraviolet radiation for a duration,
wherein the duration is optionally sufficient to alter the photonic band gap of the at least a portion of the hierarchical opal,
wherein the duration of exposing the hierarchical opal to water vaper is optionally from about 1 second to about 10 seconds,
wherein the duration of exposing the hierarchical opal to ultraviolet radiation is optionally from about 1 second to about 5 hours, and
wherein the duration is sufficient to induce a beta-sheet content in the silk fibroin from 20% to 45% (w/w).