• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.651-655
• /
• 2012

Considerable effort has been directed toward the use of silk fibroin as a biotechnological material in biomedical applications on account of its excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and unique mechanical properties. For use in tissue engineering, it is very important to design and control the pore architecture of polymeric scaffolds, which provide the vital framework for seeded cells to organize into functioning tissue. In the present study, a silk fibroin scaffold with controlled interconnectivity and pore size was prepared using an electrospinning method with poly(ethylene oxide).

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.534-539
• /
• 2004

Two biopolymers, silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan, were conjugated by tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1), a polyphenolic oxidase, to improve their physicochemical properties, such as their thermal properties and morphological stabilities in organic solvents. The crosslinking between SF and chitosan took place mainly through Michael addition reactions. A main reaction between the amino groups in chitosan and o-quinone, the oxidation product of the tyrosyl residue in SF, was confirmed by UV spectroscopy. Measurements of viscosity and light scattering indicated that the crosslinked SF/chitosan conjugate was compact: it had a smaller particle size because of tight bonding forces between the SF and chitosan molecular chains. Thermal decomposition of SF/chitosan conjugates crosslinked by tyrosinase occurred at higher temperatures. The adhesiveness of the SF/chitosan conjugates decreased steadily as the crosslinking reaction progressed. We propose that this new crosslinking method be used for the preparation of silk fibroin/chitosan conjugates using tyrosinase. We expect that SF/chitosan conjugates crosslinked by tyrosinase can be used preferentially in biomedical applications because of its unique properties and non-toxicity.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.201-206
• /
• 2011

Using proteases, we produced a peptide mixture from fibroin of the silkworm $Bombyx$ $mori$. Mice received D-galactose by subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks to accelerate aging, and then received the peptide mixture orally for 7 weeks. In the mice aged with D-galactose, the coefficient of friction of hair increased significantly up to 1.6-fold, but in the mice subsequently given the peptide mixture, it was normal. Scanning electron microscopy showed improved hair cuticles in the latter mice too. These results indicate that oral administration with peptides from $Bombyx$ fibroin counters the aging of hair cuticles.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.188-195
• /
• 2000

In order to understand molecular events during silk synthesis and provide genetic resources for molecular breeding, we had analyzed the cDNA library constructed from the posterior silkgland of Antheraea yamamai and partially sequenced 276 randomly selected genes from the cDNA library. Database comparisons of the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) revealed that 26 non-redundant clones showed a high similarity with previously identified genes. Among them, 17 clones exhibited a homology with previously identified insect genes and 9 clones were identical to genes that were previously identified from other organisms. A functional categorization showed that silk synthesis-defense- or stress-related genes, as well as genes involved in the metabolic pathways and in the transcriptional or translational apparatus are represented. In this report, the clone (AY479) which had high similarity with fibroin from A. pernyi was particularly analyzed in detail. The AY479 clone was carboxyl terminal region of fibroin. The 472 bp cDNA has 123 amino acids that shared 85% homology with the fibroin from A. pernyi and its deduced peptide had unique feature, that is, sites of alanine rich residues.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.487-497
• /
• 2019

Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is an essential substance added to animal cell culture medium. However, its composition is unclear causing problems such as development of an immune response when cultured cells are transplanted into the human body. In this study, silk sericin, silk fibroin, and hemolymph obtained from silkworms were added to the cell culture medium in order to determine if it can replace FBS. After establishment of the cell culture, cell proliferation and expression levels of cell growth-related genes were compared with those of control cells (cells cultured in the medium with 10% FBS). Results showed that the test group treated with silk fibroin extracted from a Korean silkworm variety, Kumokjam could replace 10% FBS. In addition, expression levels of cell growth related genes such as Fibronectin and TGF-β1 increased significantly in cells cultured using silk fibroin, depending on the concentration used in cell adhesion and cell proliferation [24]. To date, no studies have been conducted to find a replacement for FBS. Thus, this study was carried out to develop a substitute for FBS by using silkworm-derived alternatives such as silkworm hemolymph, silk sericin, and silk fibroin, which are cheap and have various physiological effects, cell promoting effects, and can be mass produced.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.509-513
• /
• 2009

For examining an effect of lithium bromide on structure and property of chitosan/fibroin blend, we investigated the structural characteristic of chitosan/fibroin blend films using solution with lithium bromide which was removed during a casting. The chitosan/fibroin blend formed a complex with the dissolved bromine/lithium ions. The crystalline phase of the complex was found in the blend film at LiBr concentration of 0.6 mol/L. The degree of crystallization was decreased with increasing the concentration of LiBr. The hydrated crystalline phase of chitosan was formed in the blend film that lithium bromide was removed in the process of casting by neutralization and osmotic action. The crystallinity of this film was increased largely as compared with that of the film without lithium bromide. The complexed blend film formed hydrogel absorbing plenty of water.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.180-185
• /
• 1996

Biosynthesis tracing of the silk fibroin in Bombyx mori silkworm was examined in vivo with isotopic [1-13C] Gly. labeling by nuclear magnetic resonance method. The [1-13C] Gly. labeled silk fibroin yielded very sharp 13C NMR signal in the posterior silk gland as well as in aqueous solution and the amound of [1-13C] Gly. labeled signal in the silkworm increased gradually and rapidly to 5-th day of fifth instar. However, the decomposition or decrease of the [1-13C] Gly. labeled signal occured from 5-th to 9-th day of fifth instar unexpectedly. These findings suggest that a relative amount of ${\alpha}$-helical portion or amorphous silk II portion was formed without any further signal from 6-th day of fifth instar to pupation. Through peak separation of orientation spectrum, between the fiber axis and the molecular bond direction, N-H bond in Bombyx mori silk fiber as well as the orientation distribution around the silk fibroin axis were determined and two kinds of peaks were also obtained from this orientation spectrum.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.250-254
• /
• 2010

Introduction: This study evaluated the bone regenerative effect of silk fibroin mixed with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) of a bone defect in rabbits. Materials and Methods: Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study and bilateral round shaped defects were formed in the parietal bone (diameter: 8.0 mm). The silk fibroin mixed with PRF was grafted into the right parietal bone (experimental group). The left side (control group) was grafted only PRF. The animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. A micro-computerized tomography (${\mu}$CT) of each specimen was taken. Subsequently, the specimens were decalcified and stained for histological analysis. Results: The average value of plane film analysis was higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 4 weeks and 8weeks after surgery. However, the difference was not statistically significant.(P>0.05) The tissue mineral density (TMD) in the experimental group at 4 weeks after surgery was significantly higher than the control group.(P<0.05) Conclusion: Silk fibroin can be used as a scaffold of PRF for rabbit calvarial defect repair.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.458-462
• /
• 2009

Silk fibroin is a structural protein from Bombyx mori and can be sulfated to provide biofunctional polypeptides showing antiviral and anticoagulating activities. However, the sulfated fibroins have not been characterized enough to present their compositions and structures. In this report, sulfation reaction was investigated by varying the reaction temperature and sulfuric acid concentration and analysis of the resulting peptides were carried out. The degree of sulfation was proportion to sulfuric acid concentration but the maximum product yield was obtained at $60^{\circ}C$ and 5% of sulfuric acid concentration. FT-IR spectrum, UV absorption and NMR spectrum support that o-sulfate ester was formed at the hydroxyl group of serine and tyrosine residues. Size exclusion chromatography identified that sulfated fibroin was composed of a highly hydrolyzed polypeptide mixtures and peptides of relatively higher molecular weight.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.239-243
• /
• 2007

A method of forming agar microcapsule with fibroin coating was developed in this report. The capsules were prepared from a W/O emulsion of hot agar in mineral oil and were subsequently coated by fibroin. The capsules were harvested as precipitated aggregates, which can be dispersed in an aqueous media. The diameter of the microcapsule was less than $10{\mu}m$ by microscopic observation and 90% of them were between $1.32{\mu}m\;and\;6.0{\mu}m$. The structure of the aggregates and their dispersed microspheres were investigated by scanning electron microscope. Confocal microscopy was applied to visualize the core-shell structure of the agar microcapsule with fibroin coating. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measured their composition to be agar 51.2%, fibroin 13.8%, Span 80 1.4% by weight.