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The impact of degumming conditions on the properties of silk films for biomedical applications
journal contribution
posted on 2016-01-01, 00:00 authored by Ben AllardyceBen Allardyce, Rangam RajkhowaRangam Rajkhowa, R J Dilley, M D Atlas, Jasjeet Kaur, Xungai WangThe degumming process to remove sericin decreases silk fiber strength; however, the impact of degumming on the mechanical properties of regenerated silk biomaterials has not been established. This study investigated the effect of degumming temperature, time, alkaline component and alkaline concentration on the mechanical properties of silk fibroin films. Sericin removal was estimated using weight loss; 10 samples with 12.2–29.4% weight loss were then further characterized in terms of fiber mechanical properties, fiber surface morphology, molecular weight distribution and film tensile strength. A negative correlation was found between weight loss and fiber tensile strength. This loss of fiber strength under harsher degumming conditions had a direct impact on the tensile strength of regenerated films. Mild degumming conditions (weight loss of 12.2%) led to higher film strength (8.9 MPa), whereas aggressive degumming conditions (with 29.4% weight loss) resulted in significantly weaker films (4.3 MPa). The presence of some residual sericin, after mild degumming, is likely to affect the mechanical properties of the regenerated silk films. These results will assist in the development of materials with mechanical and biocompatibility properties tuned to specific biomedical applications.
History
Journal
Textile Research JournalVolume
86Issue
3Pagination
275 - 287Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTDPublisher DOI
ISSN
0040-5175eISSN
1746-7748Language
EnglishPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, Tha AuthorsUsage metrics
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