Innovative Multifunctional Silk Fibroin and Hydrotalcite Nanocomposites: A Synergic Effect of the Components

Abstract

Novel hybrid functional materials are formed by combining hydrotalcite-like compounds and silk fibroin (SF-HTlc) via an environmental friendly aqueous process. The nanocomposites can be prepared with different weight ratio of the constituting components and preserve the conformational properties of the silk protein and the lamellar structure of hydrotalcites. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy analyses show a good dispersion degree of the inorganic nanoparticles into the organic silk matrix. A mutual benefit on the stability of both organic and inorganic components was observed in the nanocomposites. SF-HTlc displayed limited dissolution of hydrotalcite in acidic medium, enhanced mechanical properties, and higher protease resistance of silk protein. The transparency, flexibility, and acidic environment resistance of silk fibroin combined to the protective and reinforcing properties of hydrotalcites generate a hybrid material, which is very attractive for applications in recently reported silk based opto-electronic and photonics technologies.

Luminescent films for chemo- and biosensing

“…[75][76][77] The structure of films is closely related to the rates of evaporation and the withdrawal speed of the substrate, 78 and, the film with a smaller thickness is achieved by a slower withdrawal speed. [82][83][84][85] Therefore, we will concentrate on the applications of luminescent films in chemosensors by the drop-casting technique. [82][83][84][85] Therefore, we will concentrate on the applications of luminescent films in chemosensors by the drop-casting technique.…”

Silk fibroin film from golden‐yellow Bombyx mori is a biocomposite that contains lutein and promotes axonal growth of primary neurons

“…In this regard, among different SF‐based biomaterials forms, SF films have shown promising results in vitro and in vivo . Indeed, it has been shown that the use of silk films could match the need of mechanical and trophic support in regenerative scaffolds by means of nanostructuring, topographic functionalization of SF with bioactive/trophic molecules, or doping the SF film matrix for controlled release of stem cells, drugs and growth factors . In this context, several processes have been reported to functionalize SF with doping molecules, growth factors and/or chemicals or nanoparticles …”

APTES mediated modular modification of regenerated silk fibroin in a water solution

“…SF-T3-APTES films were prepared in according to the literature 11 . Specifically, note aliquots of silk solution and SEC eluted SF-APTES-T3 fractions were dropped on a support/mold of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), left dried, and piled off from the PDMS substrate in order to obtain free-standing composite films.…”

“…Chemical approaches so far proposed for modifying silk fibroin rely on both covalent bonding [6][7][8][9] and non covalent interactions. [10][11][12] SF contains serine, threonine, asparticglutamic acid, and tyrosine that can undergo supramolecular interactions and that can all be targeted and modified exploiting known organic synthesis procedures. Among them, Murphy et al recently demonstrated the possibility of diazonium coupling on tyrosine residues, as efficient approach for introducing new reactive functionalities or to enrich SF of naturally present chemical groups.…”