Preparation of Water-insoluble Antheraea Pernyi Silk Fibroin Films

Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (ASF) solution was prepared by dissolving Antheraea pernyi silk fiber in lithium thiocyanate solution. The ASF/glycol blend films were prepared by casting aqueous solution of ASF mixed with glycol. The structure of blend film was investigated by the X-ray diffraction method and infrared spectroscopy. The result showed that the structure of regenerated ASF film was a-helix and random coil conformation. After mixing with glycol, it resulted in significant increase in beta-sheet structure with the improvement of water resistance of the films. This effect was strongly dependent on glycol content in the blend film. When the glycol content was more than 45 wt%, the structure of ASF changed to beta-sheet and the film became water-insoluble. The breaking strength and elongation of ASF/glycol blend film were 30 Mpa and 50 %, respectively. In summary, the ASF/glycol blend film provided a great potential as a biological material.