title: Synthesis and properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes incorporated organic silk fibroin cryogels.
abstract: A new monolithic organic cryogel was synthesized from a silk fibroin/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hydrogel by the freeze-drying method in order to maintain the silk fibroin network. The silk fibroin/MWCNT hydrogel was prepared by the regeneration of silk fibroin using an aqueous silk fibroin solution in which MWCNTs were dispersed by in-situ methods. It was observed that the formation of the silk fibroin/MWCNT hydrogel was accelerated by increasing the MWCNT concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and electron microscopy analysis techniques were used to characterize the silk fibroin/MWCNT cryogel. The MWCNTs were embedded in the silk fibroin based cryogel with disordered porous structures. In addition, the MWCNTs induced a change in the crystal structure of the silk fibroin and also increased the proportions of micropores and mesopores in the supermacroporous cryogels when they were introduced in the appropriate amounts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hun-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyoung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D005349:Fibroins