Preparation and physical properties of antheraea yamamai/Bombyx mori silk fibroin blending film

Antheraea yamamai (A yamamai) silk fibroin contains tripeptide sequence of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and more positively charged amino acids residues. In this study, aqueous A. yamamai silk fibroin solution and Bombyx mori (B. mori) silk fibroin solution in various blending ratios were mixed to prepare blending films. The morphology and physical prosperities of the blending films were examined and analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). The results indicated the presence of distinct sea-island-like microphase separation structure in blending films in which the diameters of sea-like particles were approximately 1 um Molecular conformation of these two silk fibroins exhibited the coexistence of random coil and a-helix, and was effectively induced to /t-sheet structure by means of ethanol treatment. The new silk fibroin materials with both RGD sequence and microphase separation structure provided excellent microenvironment for cells to adhere and grow.