Processing-Structure-Properties Relationships of Glycerol-Plasticized Silk Films

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Engineering

Background:

• Silk's excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility make it a valuable biomaterial.
• Understanding silk processing-structure-property relationships is crucial for optimizing its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of glycerol plasticization on silk films.
• To elucidate the processing-structure-properties relationships in glycerol-plasticized silk.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of silk films with varying glycerol content (0-30% w/w).
• Analysis using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Main Results:

• Glycerol interacts with silk proteins via hydrogen bonding, decreasing glass transition and crystallization temperatures at low concentrations.
• Increased glycerol content promotes silk protein chain mobility, leading to enhanced beta-sheet structures, water insolubility, and crystallinity.
• Significant improvements in film stretchability and toughness were observed.

Conclusions:

• Glycerol acts as an effective plasticizer for silk films.
• Glycerol content critically regulates silk protein structure and film properties, enhancing mechanical performance for biomedical uses.