The study aimed to investigate and compare some characteristics of Bombyx mori and Eri (Philosamia ricini) silks in different forms; with and without sericin. The protein contents were measured and find out the composition of the silk fibroin and sericin proteins by Lowry method. The secondary structure and thermal behavior of all kind of silk were determined by FT-IR and TA instrument, respectively. The B. mori composed of more amount of sericin content than that of Eri silk. FT-IR spectra indicated that the Eri silk was similar profile of silk with and without sericin, whereas B. mori silk showed dramatically differed. With sericin, B. mori composed of higher ratio random coil and alpha-helix structures than beta-structure. With thermogravimetric analysis, both B. mori and Eri silk fibers without sericin showed higher stability than that silk fiber with sericin. This is due to the crystalline region of hydrophobic amino acid composed in the fibroin core protein. The differential scanning calorimetry thermogram of B. mori was differed from Eri silk fiber. It is a promising that characteristics of the silk were influenced by both silk components and silk varieties.
This study aimed to prepare Silk Fibroin (SF) and Gelatin (G) blend film and study its morphology, secondary structure and thermal properties compared to native SF and G films. The films were prepared from the SF solution by casting on the polystyrene plates. They were investigated their secondary structure by fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, morphology using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In addition, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG) and Differential TG (DTG) were used for thermal properties investigation. The results found that the SF/G blend film composed of both alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures which were similar characteristics of the native SF and G. This result was similar to the TG and DTG analysis according to blending between SF and G is not enhancing thermal stability of the film. However, changes in some absorption bands and temperatures were also observed from the blend film. The result suggested that chemical interaction and hydrogen bonding between SF and G could be formed. The formation could be affected to the uniform of the surface throughout the film under SEM.
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