Characterization of Bombyx mori and Antheraea pernyi silk fibroins and their blends as potential biomaterials.

Shuko Suzuki,Grant A Edwards,Traian V Chirila

doi:10.1007/s40204-016-0057-3

Abstract

Fibroin proteins isolated from the cocoons of certain silk-producing insects have been widely investigated as biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. In this study, fibroins were isolated from cocoons of domesticated Bombyx mori (BM) and wild Antheraea pernyi (AP) silkworms following a degumming process. The object of this study was to obtain an assessment on certain properties of these fibroins in order that a concept might be had regarding the feasibility of using their blends as biomaterials. Membranes, 10–20 μm thick, which are water-insoluble, flexible and transparent, were prepared from pure fibroins and from their blends, and subjected to water vapor annealing in vacuum, with the aim of providing materials sufficiently strong for manipulation. The resulting materials were characterized by electrophoretic analysis and infrared spectrometry. The tensile properties of the membranes were measured and correlated with the results of infrared analysis. At low concentrations of any of the two fibroins, the mechanical characteristics of the membranes appeared to be adequate for surgical manipulation, as the modulus and strength surpassed those of BM silk fibroin alone. It was noticed that high concentrations of AP silk fibroin led to a significant reduction in the elasticity of membranes.

Highlights

Silks are biopolymers with a wide range of mechanical properties, which are produced by certain organisms such as insects and spiders
We evaluate and discuss here the characteristics of membranes made of B. mori silk fibroin (BMSF), APSF and their blends, with an emphasis on their mechanical properties
While the literature dedicated to mechanical properties of BMSF is extensive, the APSF has been considerably less investigated

Summary

Introduction

Silks are biopolymers with a wide range of mechanical properties, which are produced by certain organisms such as insects and spiders. Murphy and Kaplan 2009; Harkin et al 2011; Pritchard and Kaplan 2011; Sehnal 2011; Wenk et al 2011; Chirila et al 2013; Kundu et al 2013; Hodgkinson and Bayat 2014; Khan and Tsukada 2014; Kundu et al 2014; Patra and Engel 2014; Wang et al 2014; Koh et al 2015; Lamboni et al 2015; Cao and Zhang 2016; Kapoor and Kundu 2016) This type of application implies their direct contact with the human living tissue; the ability of fibroin or sericin to function as a nontoxic substratum for the attachment and growth of cells specific to the host tissue is essential (Minoura et al 1990, 1995a, b). More recent studies (Bray et al 2013; Hogerheyde et al 2014), involving human corneal cells, indicated acceptable cell attachment to APSF or to BMSF/APSF blends, an enhancement induced by APSF could not be unequivocally proved

Methods

Results

Conclusion