Immunological detection technology and application for silk residues in archaeological remains

Immunological detection technology provides an innovative solution for the highly sensitive detection of silk residues in archaeological remains. Based on the degradation products and characteristic amino acid sequences of silk fibroin, we successfully prepared polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against silk fibroin. Subsequently, a methodological system was established, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM), colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strips, and label-free electrochemical immunosensors. These techniques offer advantages such as high sensitivity, high specificity and rapid detection, enabling the precise identification of silk fibroin proteins in archaeological remains. Silk residues have been successfully identified in archaeological projects such as the "Nanhai No.1"shipwreck, Han tombs at the Changxing and Sujialong sites. In addition, the combination of immunomagnetic bead enrichment technology (IMBs) significantly enhanced the detection rate of low-abundance samples, providing strong technical support for the detection of silk residues in early tombs and sites. This review systematically summarizes the aforementioned immune detection techniques and research achievements, introducing the basic principles of various methods and their practical applications in detecting silk residues. The aim is to provide a reference for the micro-trace detection of other silk fabric cultural relics.