Preparation and characterization of silk fibroin-sericin composite material through a one-pot method

Abstract

This study focused on the fabrication of a composite material composed of silk fibroin (SF) and sericin (SS). The "one-pot" method was proposed, directly introducing the two components into a formic acid-calcium chloride system to create gel-like material that possesses an abundance of porous structures and remarkable mechanical properties and toughness. By using a solvent exchange and evaporation technique, composite films were produced with outstanding tensile toughness even under wet conditions. Moreover, the influence of the formic acid-calcium chloride dissolution system on sericin and the composite material was investigated. Overall, this study provided a novel and effective approach to produce composite materials with desirable properties by using silk fibroin and sericin. It also highlighted the crucial role of both the formic acid-calcium chloride dissolution system and ethanol-water gradient treatment in the fabrication process. This research has implications for the development of new materials with potential applications in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and tissue engineering.