Effects of Silk Degumming Process on Physicochemical, Tensile, and Optical Properties of Regenerated Silk Fibroin

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Authors
Nutsch, Kira
Näf, Muriel
El Yakhlifi, Salima
Bruns, Nico
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
09/2018
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01A - Journal article
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Parent work
Macromolecular Materials and Engineering
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Volume
303
Issue / Number
12
Pages / Duration
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Publisher / Publishing institution
Wiley
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Abstract
Sericin removal from silk (degumming) affects material characteristics of silk fibroin (SF). Sodium carbonate is most commonly used for degumming, but numerous alternative methods are available. Herein, a systematic comparison of degumming methods is provided. Sodium carbonate, sodium oleate, trypsin, and ionic liquid are used, and materials are characterized regarding mass loss, SF content, molecular integrity of SF, refractive index, and tensile properties. Complete degumming is achieved within 30 min of using sodium carbonate, but results in significant reduction of molecular weight, shift toward less acidic charge variants, and reduction of yield‐ and rupture force. Sodium oleate and trypsin are inefficient and negatively affect tensile properties, while ionic liquid shows good efficiency and marginal degradation of SF but also reduced yield‐ and rupture force. Refractive index is not affected by degumming. These results allow rational selection of the degumming method and tuning of SF properties for biomedical applications.
Keywords
degumming, refractive index, silk fraction, silk sericin, tensile testing
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ISBN
ISSN
1439-2054
1438-7492
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
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Peer review of the complete publication
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Citation
Nutsch, K., Bast, L. K., Näf, M., El Yakhlifi, S., Bruns, N., & Germershaus, O. (2018). Effects of Silk Degumming Process on Physicochemical, Tensile, and Optical Properties of Regenerated Silk Fibroin. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 303(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.201800408