Zhuang Xincheng, Gong Weiting, Wang Fang, Hu Xiao
Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
Ultrason Sonochem. 2025 Jul 30;120:107480. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2025.107480.
Silk fibroin is highly regarded for its exceptional biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical properties, making it a valuable material in the field of tissue engineering. Ultrasound technology, recognized as a safe and efficient physical method, enables precise manipulation of material microstructures and macroscopic properties, which is essential for the development of innovative high-performance biomaterials. This study aims to enhance the solution miscibility, fiber uniformity, and properties of silk-based protein nanofiber materials by employing a silk-silk composite approach. The method involved air-spinning of Tussah silk fibroin (TSF) and Bombyx mori silk fibroin (BSF) blends through ionic liquid dissolution, combined with ultrasound-assisted processing. Comprehensive characterization, including SEM, FTIR, XRD, C NMR, DSC, TGA, AFM, WCA, revealed that the original TSF/BSF composite exhibited weak hydrogen bonding interactions, resulting in uneven protein fibers. Moderate ultrasound treatment facilitated the formation of uniform fibers and their interlacing, significantly enhancing the interactions between TSF and BSF. This process promoted the efficient miscibility of TSF with BSF, thereby mitigating the occurrence of microphase separation. It led to increased β-sheet crystalline content, improved thermal and mechanical properties, and enhanced hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradation rates. Therefore, integrating protein composites with ultrasound processing produces uniform nanofiber biomaterials with superior structural and biological properties, opening up new perspectives for their application in biomedicine.
丝素蛋白因其卓越的生物相容性、可降解性和机械性能而备受赞誉，使其成为组织工程领域的一种有价值的材料。超声技术作为一种安全有效的物理方法，能够精确操控材料的微观结构和宏观性能，这对于开发创新的高性能生物材料至关重要。本研究旨在通过采用丝-丝复合方法来提高丝基蛋白质纳米纤维材料的溶液混溶性、纤维均匀性和性能。该方法包括通过离子液体溶解对柞蚕丝素蛋白（TSF）和家蚕丝素蛋白（BSF）共混物进行空气纺丝，并结合超声辅助加工。综合表征，包括扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、X射线衍射（XRD）、碳核磁共振（C NMR）、差示扫描量热法（DSC）、热重分析（TGA）、原子力显微镜（AFM）、水接触角（WCA），表明原始的TSF/BSF复合材料表现出较弱的氢键相互作用，导致蛋白质纤维不均匀。适度的超声处理促进了均匀纤维的形成及其交织，显著增强了TSF和BSF之间的相互作用。这一过程促进了TSF与BSF的有效混溶，从而减轻了微相分离的发生。它导致β-折叠晶体含量增加、热性能和机械性能改善，以及亲水性、生物相容性和生物降解率提高。因此，将蛋白质复合材料与超声处理相结合可生产出具有优异结构和生物学性能的均匀纳米纤维生物材料，为其在生物医学中的应用开辟了新的前景。
