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Deng Q, Wang F, Gough CR, Hu X. Tunable microphase-regulated silk fibroin/poly (lactic acid) biocomposite materials generated from ionic liquids. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 197:55-67. [PMID: 34952094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.12.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
One of the most effective and promising strategies to develop novel biomaterials with unique, tunable structure and physicochemical properties is by creating composite materials that combine synthetic polymers with natural proteins using ionic liquids. In this study, biodegradable poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PDLLA) was blended with silk fibroin (SF) to create biocompatible films using an ionic liquid-based binary solvent system (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride/N,N-dimethylformamide), which can maintain the molecular weights of the proteins/polymers and encourage intermolecular interactions between the molecules. The effects of varying the ratio of PLA to SF were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water contact angle testing, and cytotoxicity analysis as well as enzymatic degradation. Results showed that the composite films were homogeneously blended on the macroscopic scale and exhibited typical fully miscible polymer blend characteristics. By increasing the SF content in the composites, the amounts of β-sheets in the films were significantly increased, allowing for SF to act as a physical crosslinker to maintain the stability of the protein-polymer network. Additionally, SF significantly improved the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of the material and promoted the self-assembly of micelle structures in the biocomposites. Different topologies in the films also provided beneficial surface morphology for cell adhesion, growth, and proliferation. Overall, this study demonstrated an effective fabrication method for a fine-tuned polymer blends combining synthetic polymer and protein for a wide variety of biomedical and green material applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Deng
- Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Christopher R Gough
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
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Jao D, Hu X, Beachley V. Bioinspired Silk Fiber Spinning System via Automated Track-Drawing. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:8192-8204. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Xue Y, Hu X. Electrospun Silk-Boron Nitride Nanofibers with Tunable Structure and Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1093. [PMID: 32403370 PMCID: PMC7284470 DOI: 10.3390/polym12051093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets and Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) proteins were combined and electrospun into BNSF nanofibers with different ratios. It was found that the surface morphology and crosslinking density of the nanofibers can be tuned through the mixing ratios. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study showed that pure SF electrospun fibers were dominated by random coils and they gradually became α-helical structures with increasing h-BN nanosheet content, which indicates that the structure of the nanofiber material is tunable. Thermal stability of electrospun BNSF nanofibers were largely improved by the good thermal stability of BN, and the strong interactions between BN and SF molecules were revealed by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). With the addition of BN, the boundary water content also decreased, which may be due to the high hydrophobicity of BN. These results indicate that silk-based BN composite nanofibers can be potentially used in biomedical fields or green environmental research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xue
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
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Bealer EJ, Onissema-Karimu S, Rivera-Galletti A, Francis M, Wilkowski J, Salas-de la Cruz D, Hu X. Protein-Polysaccharide Composite Materials: Fabrication and Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E464. [PMID: 32079322 PMCID: PMC7077675 DOI: 10.3390/polym12020464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-polysaccharide composites have been known to show a wide range of applications in biomedical and green chemical fields. These composites have been fabricated into a variety of forms, such as films, fibers, particles, and gels, dependent upon their specific applications. Post treatments of these composites, such as enhancing chemical and physical changes, have been shown to favorably alter their structure and properties, allowing for specificity of medical treatments. Protein-polysaccharide composite materials introduce many opportunities to improve biological functions and contemporary technological functions. Current applications involving the replication of artificial tissues in tissue regeneration, wound therapy, effective drug delivery systems, and food colloids have benefited from protein-polysaccharide composite materials. Although there is limited research on the development of protein-polysaccharide composites, studies have proven their effectiveness and advantages amongst multiple fields. This review aims to provide insight on the elements of protein-polysaccharide complexes, how they are formed, and how they can be applied in modern material science and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Bealer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (E.J.B.); (A.R.-G.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (S.O.-K.); (M.F.); (J.W.)
| | - Shola Onissema-Karimu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (S.O.-K.); (M.F.); (J.W.)
| | - Ashley Rivera-Galletti
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (E.J.B.); (A.R.-G.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Maura Francis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (S.O.-K.); (M.F.); (J.W.)
| | - Jason Wilkowski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (S.O.-K.); (M.F.); (J.W.)
| | - David Salas-de la Cruz
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, USA;
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08102, USA
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (E.J.B.); (A.R.-G.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; (S.O.-K.); (M.F.); (J.W.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
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