icipe-African Insect Science for Food and Health, Nairobi, Kenya.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2012 Jan 1;50(1):63-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.09.025. Epub 2011 Oct 5.
Silk fibers and cocoon shells from four African wild silkmoths Gonometa postica, Anaphe panda, Argema mimosae and Epiphora bauhiniae-were studied to gain insight into the structure-property-function relations and potential commercial application. The surface and cross-section of cocoon shells and fibers revealed the presence of prominent structural variations. Cocoon shells were multilayered and porous structures constructed from highly cross-linked fibers that are densely packed within the sericin/gum. Fibers had fibrillar sub-structures running along the fiber axis and with greater number and size of voids. The ecological significance and implication of these structures for further application are discussed.
对来自四种非洲野生蚕蛾 Gonometa postica、Anaphe panda、Argema mimosae 和 Epiphora bauhiniae 的丝纤维和蚕茧壳进行了研究，以深入了解结构-性质-功能关系和潜在的商业应用。蚕茧壳和丝纤维的表面和横截面显示出明显的结构变化。蚕茧壳是由高度交联的纤维构成的多层多孔结构，这些纤维在丝胶/树胶内紧密排列。纤维具有沿纤维轴排列的纤维状亚结构，并且具有更多和更大的空隙。讨论了这些结构对进一步应用的生态意义和影响。
