Protein detection enabled using functionalised silk-binding peptides on a silk-coated optical fibre

. The fibre coatings are stable to repeated washing and long-term exposure to water. Formation of silk coatings on fibres using commercial aqueous silk fibroin was found to be inhibited by a lithium concentration of 200 ppm, as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. This was reduced to less than 20 ppm by dialysis against water, and was found to successfully form a coating on optical fibres.