• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 1998

The morphology of silk fibroin/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)blend films was investigated using optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The effects of blend ratio and molecular weight of silk fibroin and PVA on phase separation were studied. Macro-phase separation occurred for the silk fibroin-rich/poor region whereas micro-phase separation took place for the dispersed/continuous phase, In spite of differences in molecular weight and blend ratio, it is observed that the dispersed phase and continuous one are composed of silk fibroin and PVA component, respectively. As the molecular weight of silk fibroin and silk fibroin content in blend ratio are decreased, the compatibility of blend is increased due to the reduction of micro-phase separation.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.12
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• pp.83-95
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• 1994

Fixation rate of reactive dyes on silk fibroin showed the same tendency to absorption rate. Fixation rate of Yellow 179 and Blue 71 was quite slow and Black 5, Blue 49, Blue 4, Blue 19 and Blue 21 was relatively fast. Weight increase by MAA graft polymerization onto filk fibroin was decreased, on the whole, according to the the increase of dye fixation, but weight increase of silk fibroin dyed with Blue 71 and Blue 21 was much higher than that of silk fibroin. And weight increase of silk fibroin dyed with Yellow 179 was similar to that of silk fibroin and in case of Blue 19, weight increase was about 12%, constantly. Weight increase of silk fibroin dyed with Blue 71 and Blue 21 was higher and the others were lower than of silk fibroin. And weight increase was diminished according as the dyeing temperature rises. The color was a little changed by MAA graft polymerization.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1976

The study was carried out to investigate the variations in the fibroin hydrolysis of different cocoon shell layers, and the relationship between the hydrolysis and silk physical property. The obtained results are as follows: 1. The fibroin hydrolyzing ratio was highest at the inner layer of cocoon shell and. next in order. at the middle layer and at the outer layer. 2. The fibroin hydrolyzing ratio of abnormal cocoons was higher than normal cocoon and it was different among them, tile highest was double coroon, thin shell cocoon and perforated cocoon in order. 3. The sericin content and fibroin hydrolyzing ratio of Jam 111 and Jam 112 was higher than that of Jam 111 $\times$ Jam 112. 4. The fibroin hydroiyzing ratio of the cocoons fed with the artificial diets was increased at the inner layer. The sericin content of those lessened at the inner layer, however, it slightly increased at the most inner layer more than at the inner layer. 5. The breaking strength of the degummed silk fiber of different cocoon layers was reduced at the inner layer. The breaking Strength of abnormal silk fiber was less than that of normal silk fiber. 6. A negative correlation (r= －0.8) )was approved between fibroin hydrolyzing ratio and breaking strength of silk fiber, and the regression line was Y=－0.29x＋5.07.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1999

Silk fibroin dissolved in highly concentrated calcium chloride and ethanol mixture aqueous solution turned into gel under suitable conditions. Preparation conditions and properties of gel were investigated as a function of parameters such as pH of solution, fibroin concentration, glycerol concentration and molecular weight. When pH of silk fibroin aqueous solution was near the isoelectronic point(pH 3.9~4.0), gelation occurred rapidly and strength of gel was stonger than that of pH-unadjusted due to electrostatic repulsion decrease between silk fibroin macromolecules. As concentration of silk fibroin and glycerol was higher, gelation occurred more rapid. FT Infra-red spectra of freeze-dried fibroin gel showed that gelation was derived by intermolecular anti-parallel ${\beta}$-sheet structure formation. In addition to, it was found that white-precipitate occurred instead of gelation when aqueous silk fibroin was treated by enzyme(flavouzyme), however, after flavouzyme-treated silk fibroin aqueous solution was centrifugated gelation occurred instantly. The results of differential scanning thermal analysis and infra-red spectroscopy showed that thermal stability and crystallinity of enzyme-hydrolyzed fibroin are superior to those of unhydrolyzed fibroin.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.4
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• pp.85-95
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• 1965

This report is to observe the amino acid composition at silk fibroins among varieties by using paper chromatography method and to study how they may concern with the genetical problem and the biochemical synthesis of the fibroin in silkgland. The results reached are as follows: 1. The amino acid composition of silk fibroin among varieties were observed as similar with each other on the paper chromatogram pictures. 2. In spite of the results of the amino acid composition analysis was similar with other workers results, there was some difference among varieties in numerical analysis. 3. The amino acid composition was considered to concern somewhat with the genetic problem of silkworm. 4. Some nutritive amino acids are considered to related with the worm growth more than the silk fibroin. 5. The paper chromatography of this report showed an unknown amino acid which was not found before in specific species silk fibroin and it is imagined as Hydroxyproline in view of other worker's graphy result. 6. The biochemical synthesis mechanism of silk fibroin in the silk gland, neither Stepwise process nor Template, could stand with the results of this paper satisfactory one side.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.563-569
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• 2009

Fibroin is an insoluble structural protein from Bombyx mori. It can be solubilized by dissolving in a hot $CaCl_2$ solution and subsequent dialysis. The aqueous solution is unstable and a transition from aqueous fibroin molecules rich in random coil is undergo to one rich in $\beta$-sheet content, resulting in hydrogelation. However, fibroin gel is so fragile and plastic that its mechanical property should be reformed for various applications. In this report, a semi-solid form of fibroin gel was prepared using glycerol and ethanol and was investigated to analyze their flow properties. A fibroin gel with 80% glycerol showed pseudoplastic and thixotropic properties. The square root of its yield stress varied linearly with fibroin concentration and it extrapolated to zero shear stress at 0.2% fibroin. A fibroin gel with 40% ethanol was shown to be highly thixotropic but its shear-thinning behavior was only observed above a certain level of shear rate. Its pseudoplasticity was restored by a high rate of shear stress.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.408-412
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• 2005

Structure and characteristic of the films blended chitosan matrix with silk fibroin, extracted from Bombyx mori, were studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, FT-IR spectra analysis, SEM photographs, contact angle measurement and water absorbency in order to use as biomaterials. The blend films of $0\~30 wt\%$ fibroin content were prepared in acetic solution with $Li^+$ ion. It was found that the crystallinity of chitosan/fibroin blend films was decreased by the presence of intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding between animo groups of chitosan and carbonyl groups of fibroin. As the proportion of fibroin in the blend increased, anhydrous crystalline phase of chitosan disappeared, and hydrated crystalline phase decreased, and $\beta$-structure crystalline phase of fibroin was formed. Therefore the blend films were crystallized into two different crystalline region of chitosan and fibroin. Surface hydrophilicity and water absorbency increased with blending fibroin. Above 20 $wt\%$ fibroin content, hydrogel film was formed. The surface and section of the film showed uniform microstructure on SEM photographs.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2001

The collagen growth effects in rats using B. mori fibroin sponge sheet, pure fibroin solution and chitosan sponge sheet were investigated. Histopathological inspection of the wound 12 days later showed the increse of a vascular ingrowth and the absence of inflammatory cells. Wound healing effects were accelerated in the order of Fibroin sponge sheet$\geq$Fibroin dressing solution〉Chitosan sponge sheet〉Control. The mean percentage of collagen production in rats after 12 days was 46.12$\pm$4.58% and 42.11$\pm$5.67% in fibroin sponge sheet and dressing solution-treated rats, respectively. These values were higher than the relative content in the chitosan sponge sheet and control groups, which was 23.87$\pm$3.24 and 2.42$\pm$0.32%, respectively.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 1997

The silk fibroin solution was prepared and applied to the surface of fabrics for the purpose of weighting as well as a surface modification. The water-soluble fibroin solution can be obtained by dissolving the cocoon fibroin in a boiling solution of 50% calcium chloride for 60 minutes. For the fixation of a water soluble fibroin onto the fabric surface, the various methods were investigated. The fixation can be achieved on a silk fabric by the after treatment with ethanol, stannous choride and methacrylamide. On the other hand, the epichlorhydrin compound is the most promising fixation agent for a cotton fabric. As a result of the examination of property changes, the softness and crease recovery were lessened for a silk crepe fabric by treating with 1-2% fibroin solution, while those properties were improved for a silk knit fabric.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1779-1784
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• 2013

Although enzyme-hydrolyzed silk fibroin has been reported to enhance cognitive function before, it has been still unknown which peptides can improve memory. Here we report that amino acid sequences of three novel peptides were identified from fibroin hydrolysate. Fibroin hydrolysate was obtained by hydrolysis with protease after partial hydrolysis with 5M $CaCl_2$. Synthesized peptides derived from these sequences improved scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. We confirmed this hydrolysate had effects that improved learning and memory abilities by performing the Rey-Kim test. From this hydrolysate of silk fibroin, amino acid sequences of eight peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS. Three peptides (GAGAGTGSSGFGPY, GAGAGSGAGSGAGAGSGAGAGY, and SGAGSGAGAGSGAGAGSGA) were synthesized to investigate whether they could improve memory. Passive avoidance test and Morris water maze test were performed, and all peptides showed memory-enhancing abilities on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. In this study, we identified three novel peptides that could improve memory, and that silk fibroin hydrolysate was a mixture of various active peptides that could enhance memory.