Concentration‐dependent conformation transition of regenerated silk fibroin induced by graphene oxide nanosheets incorporation

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite has been substantially investigated due to its significant multifunctional potential. Here, in combination of micromorphology, crystalline conformation, dynamic mechanical property characterization, and Fourier self‐deconvolution (FSD) quantitative analysis, we investigated the RSF molecular chains conformation transition induced by GO nanosheet incorporation, and its influence on the structural and mechanical properties of solution casted RSF/GO composite films. The GO nanosheet promoted the silk fibroin molecular chains conformation transition from random coil to β‐sheet structure, and a correlation between β‐sheet structure fraction and GO concentration was revealed. The β‐sheet structure fraction increases further improved the dynamic mechanical property of composite films. Moreover, based on nucleation‐dependent aggregation of silk fibroin molecular chains, a mechanism considering the competition effect between GO concentration and its total surface area was proposed to explain the observed concentration‐dependent conformation transition phenomenon. The study improves our understanding on silk fibroin conformation transition process in RSF/GO composite and would provide a valuable reference for the rational design of bioinspired multifunctional materials with enhanced mechanical properties. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1506–1515     

Immobilization of glucose oxidase with the blend of regenerated silk fibroin and poly(vinyl alcohol) and its application to a 1,1′- dimethylferrocene-mediating glucose sensor

The structure and properties of the blend of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were investigated. The two polymers in the blend are in the state of phase segregation. Infrared (IR) spectra indicate that the RSF in the blend maintains its intrinsic properties, thus, ethanol treatment can transfer silk I structure of RSF to silk II structure. The water absorption property and mechanical property of the blend are improved in comparison with those of RSF. The blend maintains the major merit of RSF, that is, it can immobilize glucose oxidase on the basis of the conformational transition from silk I structure to silk II structure. The properties of the immobilized enzyme are examined. Moreover, the second generation of glucose sensor based on the immobilized enzyme is fabricated and it has a variety of advantages including easy maintenance of enzyme, simplicity of construction, fast response time and high stability.     

甘油对丝素蛋白膜水溶性和结构的影响

探讨了甘油的加入对丝素蛋白溶解过程的结晶结构及结晶度的影响. 以甘油为添加剂用流延法于室温制备一系列丝素共混膜, 测试了其含水率、溶失率及结构和机械性能. 结果表明, 随着甘油加入量的增加, 丝素蛋白的溶失率逐渐降低; 当甘油/丝素质量分数超过10%时, 共混膜呈现水不溶性. 当甘油加入量较少时, 丝素蛋白呈现少量的Silk Ⅱ结晶, 而Silk Ⅰ结构不明显. 随着甘油含量的不断增加, Silk Ⅰ结晶逐渐增加而Silk Ⅱ结晶逐渐减少. 当甘油加入量达到不溶点(10%)时, 丝素蛋白主要转变为Silk Ⅰ结晶, 而几乎没有Silk Ⅱ结晶. 甘油的加入可使共混膜的柔韧性显著提高, 并促使丝素蛋白结晶度提高以及促使丝素蛋白向Silk Ⅰ结晶转变, 从而降低丝素蛋白膜的水溶性.     

纳米TiO_2改性蚕丝丝素蛋白膜的研究

用溶胶凝胶法制备纳米TiO2改性再生蚕丝丝素蛋白膜.该丝素膜机械强度提高,在水中溶失率下降.UV、AFM、SEM测试的结果表明,丝素中纳米TiO2粒径约为80 nm,纳米粒子在丝素膜中分布均匀;XRD、FTIR测试结果表明,纳米TiO2的加入,可使改性丝素膜的结晶结构从SilkⅠ向SilkⅡ转化,其结晶度也随之提高;TGA测试表明改性丝素膜的热转变温度比纯丝素膜有所改变.     

THE PREPARATION AND STUDY ON THE NANO-TiO2/SILK FIBROIN COMPOSITE FILMS BY THE SOL-GEL METHOD

Based on the sol-gel technique using butyl titanate as oxide precursor, the regenerated SF (silk fibroin)/nano-TiO2 composite films were synthesized. Different amounts of butyl titanate to SF were used to verify this effect on the characteristics of the formed materials. Samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffractometry, UV, AFM and FT-IR spectroscopy.The experimental results reveal that, compared to the pure silk fibroin films, the mechanical strength of these regenerated SF/nano-TiO2 composite films were increased and the dissolubility in water of SF/nano-TiO2 composite films in aqueous solution were decreased. The diameter of nano-TiO2 particle films was about 80nm through UV and AFM. The nano-TiO2 particles were well dispersed in the regenerated silk fibroin. It was found that the crystal structures of the composite films were transited from typical Silk Ⅰ to typical Silk Ⅱ by the XRD and FTIR. Furthermore, the crystallinity of the composite films was obviously improved. Through the TGA, it was demonstrated that the heat transition temperature of composite films was also enhanced.     

THE PREPARATION AND STUDY ON THE NANO-TiO_2/SILK FIBROIN COMPOSITE FILMS BY THE SOL-GEL METHOD

1. INTRODUCTIONSilk is a well described natural fiber produced by the silkworm, B. mori, which has been used traditionally in the form of thread in textiles for thousands of years. This silk contains a fibrous protein that forms the thread core and glueli…     

具有定向形貌的丝蛋白支架的制备

利用冰晶为模板并结合冷冻干燥技术, 成功地获得了具有一定力学强度的定向多孔丝蛋白支架. 采用扫描电镜、流变、拉曼光谱和压缩测试等方法, 考察了丝蛋白原液在不同pH值和初始浓度的情况下对定向支架的成因、内部形貌及力学性能的影响. 结果表明, 当溶液的pH值为4.4, 浓度由低到高时, 所制备的丝蛋白支架内部将分别出现纤维状结构、轴向片层状和梭状多孔结构. 特别是由初始浓度为15% (及以上)的丝蛋白溶液定向冷冻得到的支架, 在压缩试验中表现出较好的力学性能, 其轴向压缩模量和屈服应力分别达122.6和6.9 MPa, 满足了进一步应用的基本需求.     

光谱法研究pH值对再生桑蚕丝素蛋白在水溶液中结构的影响

通过一系列光谱实验手段研究了再生桑蚕(Bombyx mori)丝素蛋白在水溶液中的构象转变情况. 由于丝素蛋白含有较多带电荷的氨基酸残基, 因此环境pH值对丝素蛋白的结构有着一定的影响: 酸性越强, 丝素蛋白越容易发生从无规线团到β-折叠结构转变; 相对而言, 碱性条件则更有利于丝素蛋白以无规线团结构稳定存在. 特别是当pH在4附近时, 丝素蛋白的无规结构最易发生改变; 而pH为6左右时, 丝素蛋白的结构则较为稳定. 这种变化趋势与沿着成熟蚕腺体中丝素蛋白所处的环境及其状态相当吻合, 由此表明pH值的调节是蚕在生物体中控制其丝素蛋白状态的一个相当重要的手段. 这一结果对人工纺制动物丝条件的调控有着极其重要的现实意义. 同时我们还发现, 在相当宽的pH范围内, 丝素蛋白的二级结构存在着中间体形态, 表明丝素蛋白的变性过程不符合简单的二态机制.     

Physical characteristics and properties of waterborne polyurethane materials reinforced with silk fibroin powder

Degummed silk filament was pulverized with a home‐made machine to obtain silk fibroin (SF) powder, and the structure, morphology, and particle size of the SF powder were investigated. The individual spherical particles and aggregates with different morphology of silk fibroin coexisted in water. A waterborne polyurethane (WPU) aqueous dispersion was blended with the SF powder to prepare novel blended materials with improved physical properties. The average particle size and zeta potential of the WPU/SF aqueous dispersions were characterized. The result showed that the WPU/SF dispersion with higher SF content exhibited a less negative zeta potential and a larger average particle size. Furthermore, the effect of SF content on the morphology, miscibility, and mechanical properties of the resulting blended films was studied by scanning electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile testing. The films showed an improved Young's modulus and tensile strength from 0.3 to 33.8 MPa, and 0.6 to 5.2 MPa, respectively, with the increasing of SF up to a content of 26 wt %. The negative charges in the periphery and the small particle size made a good effort on dispersing SF powder into the WPU matrix as small aggregates, and the SF powder led to the efficient strengthening of WPU materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 940–950, 2010     

用于压力传感的还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料

利用丝蛋白能够在还原氧化石墨烯片层上发生选择性聚集的特性,制备了还原氧化石墨烯片层上富集有丝蛋白微纤且分散性良好的还原氧化石墨烯片和丝蛋白混合溶液,并通过冷冻以及低温乙醇处理的方法得到一系列不同比例的还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料.随后,采用溶液浸泡的方法在多孔材料表面再次沉积还原氧化石墨烯,以进一步提高还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料的压敏导电性.系统观察和测试结果表明,还原氧化石墨烯的引入,不仅使得多孔材料内部出现了相应的微纳结构,同时也提高了多孔材料的力学性能.还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料在完全湿态下兼具较好的强度和弹性,可以在0%~80%的压缩应变之间实现良好的压缩回复效果和压力传感性能.其中,最佳比例下的还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料在低压力下的灵敏度可达0.15 kPa?1,在0~17.3 kPa范围内能够高效工作并且具有优异的电学稳定性和耐疲劳性.因此,还原氧化石墨烯/丝蛋白基多孔复合材料因其高灵敏度、宽工作范围、结构可调以及可塑性好等诸多优点,有望在柔性压力传感方面获得较好的应用.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备纳米TiO2/丝素复合膜及结构性能研究

用溶胶凝胶法制备不同比例纳米TiO₂改性再生蚕丝丝素蛋白复合膜. UV和AFM测试结果表明, 该丝素膜中纳米TiO₂均匀分散在丝素中, TiO₂粒径约为80 nm; 同时该丝素膜的结构和热性能用FTIR, XRD, EDS, TGA和DTG进行表征. XRD测试结果表明, 随着纳米TiO₂的加入, 复合丝素膜的结晶结构从Silk I向Silk II转化, 但当纳米TiO₂的加入超过一定量时, 又破坏复合丝素膜的结晶结构; FTIR和EDS测试结果表明, TiO₂与丝素形成较好的键合; TGA和DTG测试表明复合丝素膜的热转变温度相比于纯丝素膜有所提高.     

Fabrication of silk fibroin film with properties of thermal insulation and temperature monitoring

Silk fibroin exhibits excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability combined with benign processing conditions, attracting considerable research interest for the application as biomedical materials. Among the diverse forms of sponges, hydrogels, films, and mats manufactured from silk fibroin, films are especially appealing due to the high water and oxygen permeability, good cell attachment, and low immunogenicity. Fabrication of silk fibroin films with novel properties has been successfully developed simply by incorporating various functional components into it. In the present study, the properties of thermal insulation and temperature monitoring for the silk fibroin film are demonstrated for the first time through the incorporation of thermochromic microcapsules within it. Moreover, the silk fibroin film is also endowed with improved mechanical properties in terms of tension strength and elongation at break because of the reinforcing effect of thermochromic microcapsules. The silk fibroin film fabricated with novel features in this study can be a good candidate for the application of wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and bio‐related devices in the future. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1846–1852     

Porous composite scaffolds of hydroxyapatite/silk fibroin via two‐step method

A two‐step method was used to fabricate the hydroxyapatite (HAP)/silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds, i.e. the nano‐sized HAP/SF composite powders were prepared by co‐precipitation, which were then blended with SF solution to fabricate the HAP/SF composite scaffolds. The obtained scaffolds showed a 3D porous structure. The porosity was higher than 90% with the average macropore size of 214.2 µm. Moreover, the nano‐sized HAP/SF composite powders were uniformly dispersed in the silk fibroin matrix, which provided the scaffolds enhanced compressive properties. The cell culture assay showed that the scaffolds fabricated by the two‐step method could improve the cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation when compared with those prepared by the conventional one‐step blending method. The results suggested that the two‐step method could promote the uniform dispersion of HAP in the SF matrix and efficient combination between the HAP and the matrix, which may provide a potential application in the composite scaffold preparation for tissue engineering. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丝素蛋白与聚氨酯共混膜的制备及结构和性能

采用溶液共混法制备了一系列不同组成的聚氨酯/丝素共混膜.利用红外光谱和广角X-射线衍射表征聚氨酯/丝素共混膜的结构;扫描电镜观察共混膜的断面;紫外-可见光谱测定共混膜的透光性;运用拉伸实验研究不同配比聚氨酯/丝素共混膜的力学性能.结果表明聚氨酯和丝素蛋白分子间存在较强的氢键相互作用.当丝素含量低于3 wt%时,试膜的断面较光滑,丝素蛋白分子进入聚氨酯网状结构中,破坏了聚氨酯分子内硬段和软段间的氢键作用.随着丝素含量进一步增大,丝素小颗粒均匀分散在聚氨酯基体中,二者之间具有较好的相容性.本实验所采用的制膜条件有利于促进丝素蛋白大分子的结晶.丝素蛋白对聚氨酯具有良好的增强效果,当丝素含量从0到5.6 wt%变化时,共混试片的断裂强度由0.56 MPa增大到4.60 MPa,杨氏模量由0.14 MPa增大到1.71 MPa,断裂伸长率从1065%下降到988%.丝素蛋白增强聚氨酯共混膜的强度显著增加,但弹性基本保持不变.     

Physical and chemical properties of tussah silk fibroin films

Physical and chemical structure, as well as thermal behavior of solution-cast regenerated films, prepared from tussah (Antheraea pernyi) silk fibroin, were compared with those of solution-cast native films, in order to ascertain whether treatment (degumming, dissolution) used for preparation affected their properties. Regenerated fibroin films exhibited a higher thermal stability than native ones, as shown by differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical behavior. Glass transition temperature and other relevant thermal transitions of the regenerated silk specimen shifted to higher temperatures compared with those of native specimen. Molecular conformation and crystalline structure did not show significant differences between the two kinds of silk films. Amino acid composition and molecular weight, however, distribution changed markedly after dissolving tussah silk fibroin fiber in concentrated LiSCN in polypeptide size was the main features for the regenerated silk fibroin. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Silk Fibroin/Wool Keratin Composite Scaffold with Hierarchical Fibrous and Porous Structure

The present study describes a silk microfiber reinforced meniscus scaffold (SMRMS) with hierarchical fibrous and porous structure made from silk fibroin (SF) and wool keratin (WK) using electrospinning and freeze-drying technology. This study focuses on the morphology, secondary structure, mechanical properties, and water absorption properties of the scaffold. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of SMRMS are assessed in vivo and in vitro. The scaffold shows hierarchical fibrous and porous structure, hierarchical pore size distribution (ranges from 50 to 650 µm), robust mechanical properties (compression strength can reach at 2.8 MPa), and stable biodegradability. A positive growth condition revealed by in vitro cytotoxicity testing indicates that the scaffold is not hazardous to cells. In vivo assessments of biocompatibility reveal that only a mild inflammatory reaction is present in implanted rat tissue. Meniscal scaffold made of SF/WK composite shows a potential application prospect in the meniscal repair engineering field with its development.     

光交联自支撑丝素蛋白水凝胶的三维快速成型

将丝素蛋白(SF)光诱导自交联原理与挤出式三维(3D)打印相结合, 开发了光交联自支撑SF水凝胶的原位成型加工技术. 采用旋转流变仪、 光流变测试系统和改装的挤出式3D打印设备等对SF溶液的流变性能、 光交联性能和成型加工性能等进行研究. 结果表明, SF溶液主要表现为黏性特征, 结构强度和稳定性均较差. 利用SF的光诱导自交联特性, 以三联吡啶氯化钌[Ru(Ⅱ)]和过硫酸钾(KPS)为蓝光引发体系, 可实现SF水凝胶的快速光交联成型. SF光交联行为符合指数函数增长模型, 因“滤镜效应”, 当Ru(Ⅱ)的浓度为0.05 mmol/L时, SF具有最佳的光交联性能. 通过调节气压、 针头孔径、 移动速度及固化速率等参数, 采用3D打印设备可实现从单层几何结构到多层三维网络构型SF凝胶材料的高效、 精准构建, 为SF的生物3D打印提供了新思路.     

Structure and properties of composites compression‐molded from silk fibroin powder and waterborne polyurethane

The degummed silk filament was pulverized with a home‐made machine to obtain the silk fibroin (SF) powder with the diameter of around 3 µm. The resulting SF powder was blended with waterborne polyurethane (WPU) aqueous dispersion, and then was dried and compression‐molded to prepare novel blended materials with improved miscibility and mechanical properties. WPU acted as a plasticizer and one of the components for the blends during the compression‐molded process. The structure, morphology, and properties of the blended films were investigated. The results indicated that β‐sheet of SF existed in the blended films. The SEM images showed that the cross‐section of the blended films exhibited an overall homogeneous morphology. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscope observation exhibited that some sphere‐like SF particles were well dispersed in the WPU matrix. The hydrogen bond interaction between SF and WPU in the blended films led to an increase of the glass transition temperature for the soft segment of WPU in the blended films. The blended films showed an improved Young's modulus and tensile strength from 1.2 to 288.9 MPa and 0.3 to 16.5 MPa, respectively, with the increasing of SF up to a content of 70 wt%. The hydrogen‐bonding interactions existing in SF and WPU and compression molding method played the important role in improving the miscibility and mechanical properties of the blended films. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

蚕丝蛋白与硅溶胶复合材料的研究

采用动态力学测试手段(DMA)并结合扫描电镜和拉曼光谱等方法,考察了用桑蚕丝蛋白与二氧化硅水分散体系(硅溶胶)制备的复合材料的结构与性质.结果表明,在此共混体系中,直径约为100 nm的二氧化硅聚集体与丝蛋白连续相的界面相容性良好.动态力学测试发现,复合材料的动态力学性能在15℃到55℃范围相对于纯丝蛋白材料得到了改善,二氧化硅组分的加入对丝蛋白分子链段的运动性有所阻碍,从而导致了40℃模量损耗的消失.     

类珍珠质结构的再生丝素蛋白/文石复合材料的仿生制备

详细研究了不同浓度的聚丙烯酸(分子量为2000, PAA-2k)和镁离子对碳酸钙在再生丝素蛋白(RSF)膜表面结晶的影响. 发现单独采用PAA-2k时, 碳酸钙主要以方解石形式在RSF膜表面沉积成膜; 若加入一定量的镁离子参与共同调控, 碳酸钙则有可能在RSF膜表面形成以文石为主的连续薄膜, 进而得到了具有类珍珠质结构的层状RSF/文石复合材料. 我们认为, 吸附在RSF膜表面的PAA对碳酸钙成核诱导作用及其溶液中PAA对碳酸钙结晶抑制作用共同导致RSF膜表面碳酸钙薄膜的形成.