Abstract
Keratin, as one of the most abundant proteins, has been widely used for bio-related applications due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, keratin was extracted from human hair by sulphitolysis extraction method and then blended with poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) at different proportions. The keratin/PEO mixture was dissolved in distilled water, and finally electrospun into composite nanofibers. The viscosity of keratin/PEO solution reduced with the increase of keratin mixture ratio. The viscosities of the solutions at mixture ratios of 30/70 and 40/60 keratin/PEO showed flow curves comparable with that of 6 and 4wt% pure PEO solutions, respectively. The morphology, structure, and thermal property of the composite nanofibers were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively. SEM analysis revealed that the morphologies of nanofibers were determined by the keratin content of keratin/PEO blend. Bead-free nanofibers could be found when the mixture ratio of keratin was below 70 wt% in the blend. FTIR analysis indicated that electrospinning process induced structural modifications in both the crystalline microstructure of pure PEO and keratin chains with a planar conformation with respect to the helical conformation. Thermal behavior of the keratin/PEO composite nanofibers showed that a high draw occurred in the electrospinning process causing the protein chains a less complex super-molecular reorganization that denatured at lower temperatures. The keratin/PEO composite nanofibers has potential for biomaterials such as cell culture substrate.
Highlights
Electrospinning, which was paid much attention by many researchers, is an interesting and unique technique for producing ultrafine and nano- fibers with diameter in the range from several micrometers down to tens of nanometers [1-3]
Thermal behavior of the keratin/PEO composite nanofibers showed that a high draw occurred in the electrospinning process causing the protein chains a less complex super-molecular reorganization that denatured at lower temperatures
3.1 Viscosity of keratin / PEO solution In order to investigate the influence of keratin content in keratin / PEO solution on the morphology of nanofibers, PEO solution was mixed in keratin solution with different mixture ratio at 30:70, 40:60, 50:50,60:40, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10
Summary
Electrospinning, which was paid much attention by many researchers, is an interesting and unique technique for producing ultrafine and nano- fibers with diameter in the range from several micrometers down to tens of nanometers [1-3]. There are a wide range of polymers that have been produced nanofibers by electrospinning over the last three decades [4]. Many researchers found that keratin-based biomaterials had excellent properties for regenerative medicine applications and scaffolds for cell cultivation [10-12]. In order to overcome the imperfections of pure keratin-based biomaterials, keratin was usually blended with appropriate polymers, such as poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), for composite materials with better structural properties. PEO was selected as an ideal polymer blended with keratin by many researchers due to its good biocompatibility, low toxicity, water solubility, green and safe. Focused on how to fabricate keratin / PEO blend nanofibers and their applications in the field of biomaterials. There is still a lack of a deep understanding of the properties of keratin / PEO nanofibers for further applications. The morphology, structure and thermal behavior of the nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
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