title: Biomineralization regulation by nano-sized features in silk fibroin proteins: synthesis of water-dispersible nano-hydroxyapatite.
abstract: In the present study, silk fibroin (SF) was used as a template to prepare nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) via a biomineralization process. We observed that the content of SF affected both the morphology and water dispersibility of nano-HA particles. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zetasizer, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine nano-HA particle features including the surface morphology, aggregation performance, and crystallization. Rod-like nano-HA particles with desired water dispersibility were achieved when the ratio of SF/HA (calculated) was above 7:3. SEM, TEM, and zeta potential results revealed that nano-HA particles were enclosed by the SF which formed a negative charge layer preventing the aggregation of HA nanoparticles in aqueous solution. Moreover, the nano-HA particles were able to re-disperse in water without precipitation for two weeks at room temperature, 60°C, and 90°C. Our work suggested a facile and effective approach of designing water-dispersible nano-HA particles which may have wide potential application in tissue engineering especially bone regeneration.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Aili
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Hesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C482288:fibroin, silkworm; D014867:Water; D005349:Fibroins; D017886:Durapatite
keywords: biomineralization; hydroxyapatite; silk; water-dispersible