Refinement of nano-structured fibroin thin films by near-IR pulsed laser deposition from targets consolidated with autogenous binder.
Silk fibroin (SF) powders were mixed with an autogenous binder from a natural cocoon after degumming with Na(2)CO(3) and liquefied with LiBr. An all-fibroin ablation target, SLT, obtained from the mixture after compression at ambient temperature, was compared with those without autogenous binder, SWT, or with a simple, non-autogenous binder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, SHT. The targets were then irradiated by a 1064 nm laser beam to obtain nano-structured thin films of fibroin by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on Si (100). The properties of PLD films were examined mainly by atomic force microscope (AFM) or scanning electron microscope (SEM) for microstructures and morphology. By using an autogenous binder, significant increase was observed in the rate of nanofilm deposition with simultaneous decrease in the fraction of large debris. Size reduction of smallest protein units (SPUs) was also recognized by AFM. The autogenous binder turned out to be significantly superior over conventional, non-autogenous ones.
Technofarm Axesz Co. Ltd., 3-45-4 Kamiishihara, Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. nakayama@nara-m.co.jp
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Nakayama
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Nozaki
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Senna
D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
D005349:Fibroins