title: Dissolution and regeneration of Bombyx mori silk fibroin using ionic liquids.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, 2941 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Lawrence F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Drummy
authors.forename: Deborah G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Conrady
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Rajesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Morley O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Trulove
authors.forename: Hugh C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: De Long
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mantz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007477:Ions; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; C482288:fibroin, silkworm; D005349:Fibroins