Synthesis and properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes incorporated organic silk fibroin cryogels.

A new monolithic organic cryogel was synthesized from a silk fibroin/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) hydrogel by the freeze-drying method in order to maintain the silk fibroin network. The silk fibroin/MWCNT hydrogel was prepared by the regeneration of silk fibroin using an aqueous silk fibroin solution in which MWCNTs were dispersed by in-situ methods. It was observed that the formation of the silk fibroin/MWCNT hydrogel was accelerated by increasing the MWCNT concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and electron microscopy analysis techniques were used to characterize the silk fibroin/MWCNT cryogel. The MWCNTs were embedded in the silk fibroin based cryogel with disordered porous structures. In addition, the MWCNTs induced a change in the crystal structure of the silk fibroin and also increased the proportions of micropores and mesopores in the supermacroporous cryogels when they were introduced in the appropriate amounts.