title: Preparation of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks composed of silk fibroin and poloxamer macromer.
abstract: A system was designed to utilize silk fibroin (SF) as a matrix for wound dressing. For this system, we prepared a sponge type of porous semi-interpenetrating networks (SIPNs) hydrogel composed of SF and poloxamer 407 macromer to enhance the mechanical and functional properties of SF. The thermal and mechanical properties of the hydrogels as well as their swelling behaviors were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry, compressive modulus measurement, and gravimetric method, respectively. The morphology and crystalline structure of these SIPN hydrogels were also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wide-angle diffractometry, respectively. Conformational change of SF from random coil to beta-sheet structure was accelerated by formation of SIPNs with poloxamer. The melting temperature of poloxamer in the SIPNs decreased due to the prevention of crystallization by the incorporation of SF. The mechanical strength of SIPNs hydrogel was much higher than those of SF itself or SF/poloxamer blend and increased with the poloxamer content. The equilibrium water content of SF was remarkably increased by formation of SIPNs with poloxamer due to the hydrophilicity of poloxamer. The crystallinity and morphology of SIPNs hydrogel were affected by SIPNs hydrogel composition.
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyong
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hae Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Kwang-Gill
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chong-Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D001684:Biological Dressings; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D047011:Silk; D020442:Poloxamer; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D005349:Fibroins