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Structure and biodegradation mechanism of milled Bombyx mori silk particles
journal contribution
posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00 authored by Rangam RajkhowaRangam Rajkhowa, X Hu, Takuya Tsuzuki, D Kaplan, Xungai WangThe aim of this study was to understand the structure and biodegradation relationships of silk particles intended for targeted biomedical applications. Such a study is also useful in understanding structural remodelling of silk debris that may be generated from silk-based implants. Ultrafine silk particles were prepared using a combination of efficient wet-milling and spray-drying processes with no addition of chemicals other than those used in degumming. Milling reduced the intermolecular stacking forces within the β-sheet crystallites without changing the intramolecular binding energy. Because of the rough morphology and the ultrafine size of the particles, degradation of silk particles by protease XIV was increased by about 3-fold compared to silk fibers. Upon biodegradation, the thermal degradation temperature of silk increased, which was attributed to the formation of tight aggregates by the hydrolyzed residual macromolecules. A model of the biodegradation mechanism of silk particles was developed based on the experimental data. The model explains the process of disintegration of β-sheets, supported by quantitative secondary structural analysis and microscopic images. © 2012 American Chemical Society.
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Journal
BiomacromoleculesVolume
13Issue
8Pagination
2503 - 2512Publisher
American Chemical SocietyLocation
Washington, D.C.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1525-7797eISSN
1526-4602Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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