Fabrication of electrospun Tussah silk fibroin nanofibers

Abstract

Tussah silk fibroin (TSF) nanofibers from the Antheraea pernyi silkworm were successfully produced by electrospinning from a TSF trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution. The optimum concentration for the production of very thin and smooth-surfaced TSF nanofibers ranged from 10 wt% to 12 wt%. The average diameter of TSF nanofibers spun from 10 wt% TSF TFA solutions and prepared by dissolving TSF fibers at 25 °C was 688±178 nm; that at 40 °C was 287±103 nm. The average diameter of TSF nanofibers spun from 12 wt% TSF TFA solutions and prepared by dissolving fibers at 25 °C was 686±185 nm; that at 40°C was 380±102 nm. In both cases the mean diameters of the TSF nanofibers differed significantly (P < 0.01) between the two preparation temperatures. (*: To whom correspondence should be addressed, Tel [phone], E-mail: [e-mail])