Preparation and characterization of novel nanocomposite films formed from silk fibroin and nano-TiO2.
This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of new regenerated silk fibroin (SF)/nano-TiO(2) composite films. The preparation method, based on the sol-gel technique using butyl titanate as oxide precursor, could avoid reagglomeration of the prepared nanoparticles. Samples were characterized mainly by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The UV and AFM results indicated that TiO(2) nanoparticles could be well dispersed inside the SF film, and the size of TiO(2) was about 80nm. The XRD and FT-IR analysis implied that the formation of nano-TiO(2) particles may induce the conformational transition of silk fibroin to a typical Silk II structure partly with the increasing of crystallinity in the composite films. Compared to the pure SF films, the mechanical and thermal properties of composite films were improved, and the solubility in water was decreased due to the conformational transition of silk fibroin to Silk II structure.
Feng
Xin-Xing
XX
The Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, PR China. xinxingfeng@hotmail.com
Zhang
Li-Li
LL
Chen
Jian-Yong
JY
Guo
Yu-Hai
YH
Zhang
Hua-Peng
HP
Jia
Chang-Ian
CI
D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D047011:Silk; D014867:Water; C009495:titanium dioxide; D005349:Fibroins; D014025:Titanium