Abstract

As the perfect combination of strength and luster, silkworm silks have been widely used in many fields but still need improvements. This paper demonstrates an in vivo uptake of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles by silkworms, leading to the direct production of intrinsically modified silk. The nanoparticles can be easily incorporated into the silk gland of silkworm by using this method due to the interactions between TiO2 and silk fibroin molecules. Infrared spectra indicate that TiO2 nanoparticles confine the conformation transition of silk fibroin from random coil/α-helix to β-sheet. Results of synchrotron radiation wide-angle X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering suggest that modified silks have lower crystallinity, higher mesophase content, and higher Herman’s orientation functions of crystalline region and mesophase region than control group. The breaking strength and elongation at break of the modified silk can be improved up to 548 ± 33 MPa and 16.7 ± 0.8%, respectively, by adding 1...

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.