Chapter 15 - Muga silk: Sustainable materials for emerging technology

Abstract

The entire North East in India, especially Assam, is well known for cultivation of Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis) and also in production of the Muga silk (yellow golden silk) since human civilization throughout the world. The rainy and humid climate of Assam and soil quality (pH 4.0–6.8) of the land offer suitable environment for excellent product of the Muga silk. Basically, sericulture is an agro-based cottage industry with promising responsibility for sustainable development via social integration. Muga silk is an organic and natural fiber consisting of two types of proteins, fibroin (C30H46N10O12) and sericin (C30H12N10O16). Fibroin is the core part made of heavy and light chain of alanine, tyrosine, and glycine, and is an excellent flexible sustainable material for emerging technology. Sericin, a globular protein composed of serine, alanine, and glycine soluble in hot water, provides extremely high-quality material for biomedical applications. Muga silk has been recognized as the best material for textile and garments industry as well as competent candidate for biomaterials, medicines, food and food supplements, and biofuel synthesis. Researchers are extremely attracted toward silk-based materials for their outstanding quality like biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, inexpensive, non-toxicity, UV-resistant, and moisture-friendly behavior.