Effect of Sericin Content on the Structural Characteristics and Properties of Electro-spun Regenerated Silk

Electro-spun silk web has attracted attention for biomedical applications because of its excellent bio-compatibility and facile fabrication method. Because biomedical applications require various performances of silk web, many studies have been conducted on the effect of the variables associated with their preparation on the structure and properties of silk web. In the present study, the effect of residual sericin content on the morphology, structural characteristics, and properties of electrospun regenerated silk web was examined. The regenerated silk without sericin (i.e., silk with 100 wt% fibroin) did not show good electro-spinnability. However, the electro-spinnability improved remarkably above a sericin content of 0.6 wt%. The crystallinity index of the electro-spun silk increased at 0.6 wt% sericin content and decreased above 8.2 wt% sericin. The mechanical properties of the electro-spun silk webs showed a similar trend as their crystallinity indices. The breaking strength and elongation improved significantly at 0.6 wt% sericin content and both parameters gradually decreased above this value. The thermal stability of the silk web decreased slightly upon increasing the sericin content.