亚洲AV

George Mason scientists explore adhesives to advance preservation of historical texts

Body

What does science have to do with the conservation of historical texts? Everything.听

Doctoral student Roc铆o Prisby
Doctoral student Roc铆o Prisby. Photo provided

Roc铆o Prisby, a biosciences doctoral student at听亚洲AV, led the first comprehensive analysis of proteins found within wheat starch-based and flour-based pastes used in historic texts.听

produced a working database for historians to cross-reference for their own samples that will ultimately result in greater understanding of the evolution of adhesives, while also providing a starting point to determine the best conservation practices for bookbinding and paper conservation.

Each sample tells a story鈥攕omeone in the 1500s mixing flour, water, and milk in a large bowl to create a paste that binds paper; another in the 1600s hoping to improve their glue鈥檚 viscosity with a dash of egg. But each story is different, and the uncertainty in these mixtures reinforces the need for a central database to aid in historical research.听

鈥淲e still don鈥檛 know when in human history people stopped mixing flour and water and shifted to starches,鈥 said Prisby, who also has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from George Mason. 鈥淪o, you can鈥檛 make any assumptions for what a book鈥檚 glue makeup might be.鈥澨

Prisby worked alongside George Mason researchers听 补苍诲听 of the , as well as Caroline Solazzo from the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute. Their study, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, involved extracting wheat proteins from three small leather cover samples obtained from the National Library of Medicine.听

getty images of antique book binding
Photo by Getty Images

Their methodology sought to establish a protocol capable of identifying wheat proteins, along with collagen and other proteins commonly found in leather and adhesives. The results were then compared to a database containing collagen proteins from various sources like cattle, sheep, goats, and chicken eggs, as well as wheat proteins from common wheat.听

Analysis of historical samples indicates a shift away from using whole wheat for glue production towards the use of starch-based glues. This transition has led to a noticeable decrease in protein content, as the starch extraction process significantly reduces the protein levels in the final product.

Consequently, samples containing starch-based glue exhibit considerably lower protein concentrations compared to those containing traditional wheat-based glue. Environmental conditions and extraction techniques also influence protein composition. Prisby said understanding the chemical changes in wheat-based adhesives is crucial for conservation and restoration practices, particularly in comprehending the degradation of samples over time.听

The study鈥檚 researchers suggest that further investigation into wheat pastes and other plant-based adhesives should consider a diverse array of factors, including preparation methods, additives, aging processes, and the extensive variety and composition of the raw materials used.

A native of Argentina, Prisby (formerly Cornero) began her chemistry studies at a local university before moving to the United States. She continued her studies at Northern Virginia Community College and was in the听first ADVANCE cohort to transfer to George Mason.

Prisby began researching proteins as an undergraduate in the College of Science鈥檚听 (ASSIP). In that early research, she studied the proteins in honey to monitor the health of the local environment while also seeking to identify a biomarker that might detect and diagnose diseases in honey bees.听

It was through that project that Prisby met Luchini and became interested in her lab鈥檚 work in proteomics.

鈥淒r. Luchini is a great mentor. She dedicates so much time to her students,鈥 said Prisby. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what knowledge or experience level you鈥檙e at, she meets you where you are.鈥

When Prisby graduated from George Mason with her undergraduate degree in chemistry, it was Luchini who encouraged her to pursue a听.听