The Effect of Extraction Conditions and Film Side on the Molecular Conformation of Silk Sericin Film

Abstract

In this study, silk sericin films were prepared using different extraction methods, and the molecular conformation of sericin was examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection geometry. Additionally, the effect of the film side (air-facing side or plate-facing side) on the molecular conformation of the sericin films was investigated. Interestingly, the molecular conformation of the sericin film depended on the film side. The molecular conformation of air-facing side of the sericin film was significantly influenced by extraction solution and time. The <TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>-sheet crystallization and the crystallinity index of the sericin film markedly increased with an increase in the extraction time in hot water. The order of the crystallinity indices for the sericin films obtained with different extraction solutions was as follows: citric acid solution > urea solution >> hot water. In contrast, no remarkable differences were observed in the molecular conformation of the plate-facing side of the sericin film after extraction in hot water for different time periods. Urea and citric acid solution extractions showed remarkably higher crystallinity indices for sericin than those obtained after hot water extraction. However, no significant differences were observed in the crystallinity index of sericin between urea and citric acid solution extraction in plate-facing side of the film.