• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.487-494
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• 2021

Piezoelectric generators use direct piezoelectric effects that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Many studies were attempted to fabricate piezoelectric generators using piezoelectrics such as ZnO, PZT, PVDF. However, these various inorganic/organic piezoelectric materials are not suitable for bio-implantable devices due to problems such as brittleness, toxicity, bio-incompatibility, bio-degradation. Thus, in this paper, piezoelectric generators were prepared using a silk fibroin film which is bio-compatible by dip-coating method. The silk fibroin films are a mixed state of silk I and silk II having stable β-sheet type structures and shows the d₃₃ value of 8~10 pC/N. There was a difference in output voltages according to the thickness. The silk fibroin generators, coated 10 times and 20 times, revealed the power density of 16.07 μW/cm² and 35.31 μW/cm² using pushing tester, respectively. The silk fibroin generators are sensitive to various pressure levels, which may arise from body motions such as finger tapping, foot pressing, wrist shaking, etc. The silk fibroin piezoelectric generators with bio-compatibility shows the applicability as a low-power implantable piezoelectric generator, healthcare monitoring service, and biotherapy devices.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2001

The purification, dissolution and powdering of stained waste silk obtained from weaving and dyeing process were studied for the surface modification of textile fabric and plastic materials. The whiteness of stained waste silk could be improved through degumming and bleaching with sodium hydrosulfite. The water-soluble fibroin solution can be obtained by dissoving the degummed waste silk in a boiling solution of 50% calcium chloride for 60 minutes. The salts and heavy metals contained in fibroin solution were removed by electric dialysis, wool fiber filtration and gel filtration chromatography. The fibroin powder was prepared by using a fine grinder after the alkali treatment for weakening the silk fiber. The fine fibroin powder of particle size around 30 ㎛ was obtained with a ultra fine-mill, while it was finer below 10 ㎛ with a ball-mill. The dissolved or powdered silk was applied to the surface of fabric with addition of the binder (a urethane resin). The moisture content of polyester and nylon fabrics treated with the silk solution was improved due to hygroscopic property of silk. The fine fibroin powder mixed with the binder ws coated on the surface of synthetic film by use of the air pressed sprayer. It was revealed that the hygroscopicity as well as the softness of fibroin powder coated film was much improved. Therefore, it is thought that the fine silk fibroin powder is applicable as an coating agent for the surface modification of plastic and synthetic leather.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.186-191
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• 2023

The goal of this study was to use gelatin to modify the surface of fibroin microspheres to enhance their biofunctionality for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Three different methods were used for the modification: coating, incorporation, and covalent bonding. Wound-healing assays demonstrated that gelatin modification of fibroin microspheres enhances 3T3 and HDF cell migration. Although the level of gelatin coverage varied depending on the method used, there was no significant difference between the modified microspheres. The gelatin-modified microspheres also increased the migration velocity of individual 3T3 cells. The results suggest that gelatin modification of fibroin microspheres is a promising approach for developing functional biomaterials with enhanced biological properties. Further optimization of gelatin modification is necessary to maximize the biofunctionality of fibroin microspheres.

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

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.592-600
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• 2021

Probiotics can be processed into a powder, tablet, or capsule form for easy intake. They are exposed to frequent stresses not only during complex processing steps, but also in the human body after intake. For this reason, various coating agents that promote probiotic bacterial stability in the intestinal environment have been developed. Silk fibroin (SF) is a material used in a variety of fields from drug delivery systems to enzyme immobilization and has potential as a coating agent for probiotics. In this study, we investigated this potential by coating probiotic strains with 0.1% or 1% water-soluble calcium (WSC), 1% SF, and 10% trehalose. Under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, cell viability, cell surface hydrophobicity, and cell adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells were then measured. The survival ratio after freeze-drying was highest upon addition of 0.1% WSC. The probiotic bacteria coated with SF showed improved survival by more than 10.0% under simulated gastric conditions and 4.8% under simulated intestinal conditions. Moreover, the cell adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells was elevated by 1.0-36.0%. Our results indicate that SF has positive effects on enhancing the survival and adhesion capacity of bacterial strains under environmental stresses, thus demonstrating its potential as a suitable coating agent to stabilize probiotics throughout processing, packaging, storage and consumption.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2023

The performance of computer systems and the development of various computer simulation programs have made it possible to analyze chemical systems composed of more complex elements, and accordingly, research using molecular dynamics simulation is being actively conducted. Research on calculating the gas permeation characteristics of polymer membranes by molecular dynamics, which was previously conducted mainly through experiments, is receiving attention for gas barrier membranes used in food packaging and pharmaceuticals. Recently, there has been a report that a gas barrier effect appears when a coating film is made using silk fibroin, and in this study, a study was conducted using molecular dynamics simulation to confirm whether an oxygen barrier effect appears when a composite film is made using silk fibroin. We built a single model, calculated the gas permeation characteristics, and compared it with the experimental value to confirm that the model reflects the actual experimental results. Actual composite membrane models were then built and the gas movement path within the polymer was analyzed. As a result, oxygen molecules were found that they could not pass through and was blocked in the fibroin region. Therefore, the composite membrane with silk fibroin has excellent oxygen barrier property and is expected to be useful in food packaging, etc.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2022

As the issue of reducing greenhouse gases is emerging due to global warming and extreme weather, research on materials capable of radiative cooling without energy consumption is being actively conducted. Among them, silk is known as a natural self-cooling material, but in the conventional mixing process using chemically powdered silk, there is a problem that the radiative cooling effect disappears by the collapses of the intrinsic crystal structure of silk fibroin, so it is difficult to manufacture it in the form of a film or coating agent for radiative cooling. In this study, various types of membranes were manufactured using silk powder that went through a physical pulverization process that does not damage the intrinsic structure of silk fibroin, and the study was conducted to examine its applicability as a coating agent. Electrospun membranes and flat sheet membranes were prepared by using silk fibroin powder for this purpose, and it was observed that the viscosity of the solution had a significant effect on the membrane fabrication and its properties.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2009

First of all, the properties imparted to PET fabrics are resistance to and recovery from creasing or wrinkling when wet or dry; high resistance to stretch in the filament yarns but not in the staple; high abrasion resistance; good texture and appearance; resistance to heat ageing; good chemical resistance and good resistance, behind glass, to sunlight. But, the low moisture regain of PET fabric conduces to static troubles in textile processing. Furthermore, garments made from PET may, during wear, develop electric charges which attract to the fabric particles of soil(dirt, swarf, dust) flying in the air, so that the cuffs of shirts, for example, become soiled quickly and are not easily laundered clean. The sericin constitutes 25$\sim$30％ of silk protein and surrounds the fibroin fiber with sticky layer that supports the formation of a cocoon. The useful biochemical properties of sericin protein are oxidation resistant, antibacterial, UV resistant, hydrophilic property, and good affinity with hydrophobic material. These properties can be used as an improving reagent or a coating agent for natural and synthetic fibers, fabrics, and other intermediate products. The sericin is also applied to cross-link, and can be blended with other materials. In this study, we modified the surface of PET fabric by mixture of sericin finishing agent; sericin, polyuretane binder and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) cross-link agent. Also, we investigated the finshing effect; moisture regain, stiffness, handle, drape and electrostatic. The moisture regain of PET fabric treated with sericin finishing agent was higher than that of untreated PET fabric. As a result of evaluating influence about handle of PET fabrics treated with sericin finishing agent, it was confirmed that the sericin finishing agent could be use as a linen like finishing agent.