Dissolution and regeneration of Bombyx mori silk fibroin using ionic liquids.
In this work, the suitability of imidazolium-based ionic liquid solvents is investigated for the dissolution and regeneration of silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk. Within an ionic liquid the anion plays a larger role in dictating the ultimate solubility of the silk. The dissolution of the silk in the ionic liquid is confirmed using wide-angle X-ray scattering. The dissolved silk is also processed into 100 mum-thick, two-dimensional films, and the structure of these films is examined. The rinse solvent, acetonitrile or methanol, has a profound impact on both the topography of the films and the secondary structure of the silk protein. The image depicts a silkworm cocoon dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and then regenerated as a film with birefringence.
Phillips
David M
DM
Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, 2941 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, USA.
Drummy
Lawrence F
LF
Conrady
Deborah G
DG
Fox
Douglas M
DM
Naik
Rajesh R
RR
Stone
Morley O
MO
Trulove
Paul C
PC
De Long
Hugh C
HC
Mantz
Robert A
RA
D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007477:Ions; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012995:Solubility
D007477:Ions; C482288:fibroin, silkworm; D005349:Fibroins