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Controlling molecular conformation of regenerated wild silk fibroin by aqueous ethanol treatment
Author(s) -
Li Mingzhong,
Tao Wei,
Kuga Shigenori,
Nishiyama Yoshiharu
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.409
Subject(s) - fibroin , aqueous solution , thermogravimetric analysis , random coil , materials science , silk , differential scanning calorimetry , ethanol , solvent , dissolution , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , circular dichroism , stereochemistry , physics , thermodynamics , engineering
Regenerated Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin film was prepared by dissolution of native silk fiber in aqueous lithium thiocyanate. The influence of aqueous ethanol treatment of the dried regenerated film on molecular conformation was studied by X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. While the initial regenerated film consisted of α‐helix and random coil components, aqueous ethanol treatment of the film resulted in significant increase in β‐sheet component and improvement of water resistance of the film. This effect was strongly dependent on ethanol concentration, and 40–60% (w/w) ethanol was most effective due to balance of hydrophilic/hydrophobic action of the solvent. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.