title: Flexible bio-composites based on silks and celluloses.
abstract: Biomaterials have attracted worldwide attention due to the concerns regarding health and the environment. Silk, a natural protein produced by several species of insects, has been examined as a potential material for applications in many biotechnological and biomedical fields. However, regenerated silk fibroin has poor ductility and mechanical properties. Therefore, in this study, silk fibroin-cellulose composite films were prepared in an aqueous system to increase the ductility of regenerated silk fibroin. The morphology of the silk fibroin-cellulose composite film was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The structure of the silk fibroin-cellulose composite films was examined by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. The flexibility was analyzed using a bending test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Semi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Se Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyoung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D047011:Silk; D002482:Cellulose; D005349:Fibroins