Article

Effects of gamma radiation on biodegradation of Bombyx mori silk fibroin

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, 25/25 Buddhamonthon Sai 4 Road, Salaya, Nakornchaisri, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand; Queen Sirikit Sericulture Regional Office of Northern Part, Meajoua, Denchai, Phrae 54110, Thailand; Research and Development Division, Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, 16 Vibhavadee-Rangsit Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, 25/25 Buddhamonthon Sai 4 Road, Salaya, Nakornchaisri, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Phayathai, Rachathevi, Rama VI Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, 25/25 Buddhamonthon Sai 4 Road, Salaya, Nakornchaisri, Nakornpathom 73170, Thailand
International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation DOI:10.1016/j.ibiod.2007.12.012

ABSTRACT Silkworm silks have been utilized in biomedicine for centuries. The biocompatibility of silks has been a problem for a long time due to the residual sericin on silk fibroin. Even when the sericin has been removed, this problem has still been found in some patients. This might be a result of the slow biodegradation rate of silk fibroin. Therefore, an attempt to reduce the biodegradation period of silk fibroin through gamma radiation was studied. Silks from the native Thai silkworm, Bombyx mori var. Nangnoi Sisaket-1, were irradiated with various doses before in-vitro biodegradation testing. The results showed that the biodegradation of silk fibroin increased with increasing irradiation intensity. This could be attributed to the weakness of peptide bonding in fibroin's polypeptides, reduction of β-sheet structure in the silk fibroin which was transformed to random coil structure, increase of erosion and cleft on fibroin fibers, and release of low-molecular-weight proteins in degradation products.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
22 Views
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

biodegradation
 
biodegradation period
 
biomedicine
 
Bombyx mori var
 
cleft
 
degradation products
 
fibroin fibers
 
fibroin's polypeptides
 
in-vitro biodegradation testing
 
irradiation intensity
 
low-molecular-weight proteins
 
Nangnoi Sisaket-1
 
native Thai silkworm
 
random coil structure
 
silk fibroin
 
silks
 
Silkworm silks
 
slow biodegradation rate
 
various doses
 
β-sheet structure